Homeland Fire Burns 100 Acres, 0% Contained: Evacuations Ordered

HOMELAND, CA – A brush fire that ignited near Homeland quickly grew to 100 acres Friday, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department. Temperatures reached almost 109 degrees as flames and smoke were seen from across the county.

Firefighters arrived to battle the blaze near Juniper Flats and Mapes roads shortly before 2:15 p.m.

Shortly after that, Cal Fire ordered an immediate evacuation for the blaze. "The area is lawfully closed to public access, and there is an order to leave now, as there is an immediate threat."

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department has evacuated Zone RVC-1283, which includes areas:

• NORTH OF Falcon View Lane
• SOUTH OF Juniper Flats Road
• EAST OF Alicante Drive
• WEST OF Minton Road

Care and Reception for displaced families is at Tahquitz High School at 4425 Titan Trail, Hemet.

An Evacuation Center opened at Diamond Valley Middle School, at 291 Chambers Street, Hemet.

For animal Services needs, residents can head to the Riverside County Animal Services Center located at 581 S Grand Avenue in San Jacinto.

"Firefighters remain on the scene where 100+ acres were actively burning," Cal Fire stated on social media. "A significant augmentation of air and ground resources requested, they said, adding that updates would follow as information allows.

At least three air tankers were helping to slow the blaze. There was no immediate word of injury or lost property due to the fire.

The cause remains under investigation, however extreme heat conditions were likely to have played a factor.