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This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.

KPCC Archive

Liberty Fire burns 300 acres in Murrieta, with 5 percent containment

The Liberty Fire burns in Murrieta on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.
The Liberty Fire burns in Murrieta on Thursday, Dec. 7, 2017.
(
Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department
)

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This story is no longer being updated. For the latest coverage on this fire, go here.

A fire quickly jumped from 20 acres burned into the hundreds in the unincorporated Riverside County area of Murrieta on Thursday afternoon, hitting 300 my midafternoon. The vegetation fire was burning at a "moderate to rapid rate" early on according to Cal Fire Riverside, but has reached 5 percent containment.

One structure has been destroyed. The fire, first reported at 1:14 p.m., prompted evacuation orders for all roads south of Los Alamos Road, east of Ruth Ellen Way and west of Briggs Road. The evacuation includes these streets:

  • Los Alamos Road
  • Liberty Road
  • Mary Place
  • Via Mira Mosa
  • Madelda Lane
  • Skipper Road
  • Ernest Way
  • Mesa Avenue

There were 300 firefighters battling this fire, including air support.

Care and reception centers were set up at Great Oak High School in Temecula and Mesa High School in Murrieta.

San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus was accepting both large and small animals that need to be evacuated, while Animal Friends of the Valley was accepting just small animals. The Murrieta Equestrian Center was also taking animals, but noted that all horses will have to remain in trailers because their corrals are full.

This story has been updated.

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