Liberty Fire In Riverside County Near Full Containment

MURRIETA, CA -- A fire that sparked Thursday burning 300 acres and destroying one home in Riverside County is near full containment as of Saturday morning.

The Liberty Fire was 90 percent contained, according to the Murrieta Fire Department in its latest briefing to the public. It's expected to be fully contained by Saturday night.

The fire, which sparked in the unincorporated area of Riverside County, sparked Thursday afternoon near Los Alamos and Liberty roads, prompting evacuations, power outages and school closures. Officials said one outbuilding was also destroyed.

The fire was one of several to affect Southern California this week. The largest fire sparked in Ventura County where more than 143,000 acres burned starting inland before reaching the Pacific Ocean. At least one person died in the Ventura County Thomas Fire.

The fires were fueled by erratic Santa Ana winds with forecasters issuing a red flag warning through Sunday night.

--Photo by Maggie Avants