Cal Fire Announces Cause Of 5,222-Acre Fire East Of Temecula

AGUANGA, CA — A 5,222-acre brush fire burning east of Temecula was sparked by an electrical panel, state officials said Friday afternoon.

Cal Fire law enforcement made the announcement at about 4 p.m. and said the panel was privately owned.

According to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department spokesperson Rob Roseen, the panel was freestanding and not attached to any structure.

Electrical panels can spark fires when overloaded, damaged or faulty. It's not immediately clear whether the panel was up to code.

Roseen said an investigation into the panel was ongoing. No arrests or citations were announced.

More than 1,000 firefighters are continuing to battle the non-injury blaze with containment at 21%. Full containment is not expected until Aug. 7, according to Roseen.

The fire has destroyed four structures though the number could go up as crews assess damage.

Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place. A map of evacuated areas can be found here.

"Residents within the fire area are reminded to pay attention to evacuation warnings and orders," the fire department said.

An evacuation center at Temecula Valley High School closed at 7 a.m. Friday, but a reception and care center opened at 9 a.m. Friday at Hamilton High School, 57430 Mitchell Road in Anza. Operating hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Weather over the next several days is a concern for crews battling the Nixon Fire.

"Overnight, the fire has moderated and strong work by firefighters has kept the fire within the existing perimeter," according to a Friday morning update from Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department. "Crews continue to construct and reinforce containment lines around the fire. The monsoonal weather pattern may produce lightning and increased winds, creating potential for increased fire activity. Firefighters will continue to work aggressively to gain additional control throughout the day."

Conditions will be drier Saturday through Monday, but the area where the fire is burning will be under an Excessive Heat Watch from 10 a.m. Aug. 3 through 11 p.m. Aug. 6. Throughout the four-day stretch, daytime temperatures will surpass 100 degrees and overnight lows will cool to only the mid-70s, according to the National Weather Service.

The blaze, which broke out at 12:28 p.m. July 29 in the area of Richard Nixon Boulevard and Tule Peak Road, south of Highway 371, in Aguanga, was burning in rugged terrain along the Riverside/San Diego county line near the Beauty Mountain Wilderness area, the fire department said.

Deputies shut down Tule Valley Road south of Tule Peak for public safety. Highways 371 and 79 remain open.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.