Tenaja Fire: Evacuations Modified, Containment Grows In La Cresta

MURRIETA, CA — As hundreds of firefighters continue to battle a large blaze burning in Southwest Riverside County, officials announced some progress on the Tenaja Fire on Friday. The size of the fire remains at approximately 2,000 acres, but containment grew overnight slightly — to 20 percent.

What's more, all evacuation orders were downgraded Friday morning to evacuation warnings, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. Those living on Montanya Place, Bonita Place, Belcara Place, Lone Oak Way and streets south of Calle del Oso Oro and Trails Circle are affected by the downgrade.

"The evacuation warnings for Bear Creek and Copper Canyon remain in place," the Riverside County Fire Department added in a Friday morning update. "While this is a positive change, we want to remind residents to remain vigilant and be prepared to leave at a moment's notice."

To find the absolute latest on evacuation orders, click on this interactive map provided by the County of Riverside. There, you can enter your address to see if you are affected.

Classes at all public schools in Murrieta Valley Unified School District and Elsinore Valley Unified School District were canceled Friday, but expected to resume on Monday.

Road closures are also still in effect in the area, though some have reopened. As of Friday afternoon, Clinton Keith Road was still closed to all traffic, from Chantory Street to Avenida La Cresta for public safety and to give crews freedom to maneuver. The closures at Los Gatos Road, Via Volcano and Tenaja Road have been lifted.

Fire officials said access to and from La Cresta can be made via Deluz using Los Gatos Road and Via Volcano.

The Tenaja Fire was reported about 3:55 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Clinton Keith and Tenaja roads in the unincorporated community of La Cresta. It's forced hundreds of people from their homes, though crews have been able to keep all structures safe except for minor damage to two homes thus far.

1,200 homes are threatened by the fire, officials said.

"There's difficult terrain to access the fire," Cal Fire Division Chief Todd Hopkins said during a Thursday news briefing in Murrieta.

"In this area, there's also something called the 'Elsinore Effect,' where the winds come in one direction in the morning and then turn 180 degrees in the afternoon, causing the fire to run downhill, back into neighborhoods. We expect the same weather pattern Friday."

SEE: 40 Incredible Images That Show The Magnitude Of The Tenaja Fire

Nearly 900 firefighters from Riverside County, Cal Fire, Murrieta Fire & Rescue, the Hemet Fire Department, Corona Fire Department, the Orange County Fire Authority and U.S. Forest Service were battling the fire. One firefighter suffered a non-life threatening injury, according to Cal Fire.

At 7 p.m. Thursday, officials projected full containment of the fire by Tuesday.

"Crews have been doing an excellent job getting into difficult areas and stopping the flames before they damage structures," Hopkins said.

Murrieta Police Department Chief Sean Hadden said 570 properties had been evacuated, though some of those residents had decided to return since Wednesday night.

"I understand residents want to get back into their homes, but it's a dangerous situation," Hadden said.

A care and reception center was available for displaced residents at Murrieta Mesa High School. Small animals were being accepted at that location, while larger animals, including horses, were being accepted at the county's San Jacinto Animal Campus on Grand Avenue.

Parking for horse trailers was available at Los Alamos Hills Sports Park on Ruth Ellen Way in Murrieta, and people with recreation vehicles or motorhomes were invited to utilize free space and hookups at the Lake Skinner Recreation Area on Warren Road.

The county Department of Public Health issued an air quality advisory, warning residents north and east of the Tenaja blaze that fire debris could have negative health impacts.

"Ash and smoke can be hard on anyone to breathe, but especially those with lung disease," said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, the county's public health officer. "Everyone worries about the flames, but smoke can impact you even if you're miles away from the fire."

Kaiser recommended young children and those in sensitive health to stay indoors and run air conditioners -- with unobstructed filters -- to minimize the effects of smoke and ash.

— City News Service contributed to this report.