Tips Sought On 2 Brush Fires That Burned In Murrieta

MURRIETA, CA — Two separate non-injury brush fires that broke out in close proximity to each other on consecutive days in Murrieta remained under investigation Monday and tips are sought.

As of 11:20 a.m. Monday, Murrieta Fire & Rescue crews remained at the scene of the Keith Fire that broke out over the weekend. The blaze is currently mapped at just 4 acres, but the brusher caused significant disruptions after it broke out at about 1:45 p.m. Saturday along the east side of Interstate 215 between Los Alamos and Clinton Keith roads.

An immediate evacuation order was issued for the area east of I-215, west of Whitewood Road and north of Los Alamos Road. An evacuation warning was issued for the area east of Whitewood Road, west of Ruth Ellen Way and north of Los Alamos Road.

Interstate 215 was shut down between Los Alamos Road and Clinton Keith Road, causing headaches for motorists.

Murrieta Fire & Rescue was able to knock down the fire the same afternoon, according to the agency.

Evacuation orders were lifted by 4 p.m. Saturday and Whitewood Road was reopened. One lane on the northbound I-215 was opened at the same time, and the freeway was fully opened later.

No structures burned in the blaze, but fencing and landscaping were damaged, according to Dawn Morrison, spokesperson for Murrieta Fire & Rescue.

Morrison said there was no indication that the Keith Fire was related to the 72-acre Alamos Fire that broke out at approximately 3:22 p.m. Friday on the north side of Los Alamos Hills Sports Park, near the intersection of Los Alamos Road and Ruth Ellen Way, according to Murrieta Fire & Rescue.

Evacuation orders were issued for an area north of Via Mira Mosa, south of Keller Road, east of Interstate 215/Whitewood Road, and west of Winchester and Briggs roads. As of 6 p.m., the orders were downgraded to warnings. The fire was fully contained.

No structures were lost in the fire.

The causes of both blazes were still being investigated, Morrison said Monday. Anyone with information is asked to submit tips to https://mobile.catapultems.com/murrieta/Sites.

Morrison also asked that residents be vigilant in weed reduction, especially during fire season.

According to the city's website, "Creating a defensible space around your home can make the difference between whether or not your home can survive a wildfire. The City’s Weed and Brush Management program is governed by the Murrieta Municipal Code, Title 8, Chapter 8.32. Property owners in the City of Murrieta are required to maintain their property in a clean and safe condition throughout the entire year. This responsibility is especially important during the fire season, from March through September, to keep our community safe."