Brush Fire Prompts Highway 74 Closure In Riverside County, Evacuations Issued

UPDATE: See Evacuations For Rosa Fire Burning East Of Temecula

ANZA, CA — A brush fire that erupted Monday in the San Bernardino National Forest between Anza and Pinyon Pines charred an estimated 1,200 acres, prompting closure of Highway 74 and evacuation orders and warnings.

The non-injury blaze was reported at 12:25 p.m. Monday on the north side of the highway at Santa Rosa Truck Trail, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said multiple engine and hand crews from the county, U.S. Forest Service, Palm Springs Fire Department and other agencies, numbering close to 150 personnel, were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a rapid rate to the north through heavy vegetation.

Six Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters made a series of runs on the brusher that initially slowed its progress early Monday afternoon. However, with increasing winds through the mountains, the brusher picked up speed, according to reports from the scene.

California Highway Patrol officers shut down both sides of Highway 74 between the junction at Highway 371 in Anza to the west and the area around the Big Horn Golf Club, just south of Palm Desert, covering almost 25 miles.

Evacuation orders were issued for Alpine Village, while warnings were announced for properties in and around Pinyon Pines, both west of Highway 74.

Officials said the objective was to hold the fire inside the preserve, west of the highway, which turns north toward Palm Desert after Pinyon Pines.

Firefighters established tentative containment lines on the back side, or "heel," of the brusher, as well as the western segment, but as winds increased to 15 to 20 mph in the mid-afternoon hours, they were unable to reach the head of the fire, which was burning in forest overgrowth. Only the aircraft were ahead of the flames.

Winds were expected to die down after nightfall. Night-capable Cal Fire choppers were placed on reserve going into Tuesday morning.

The cause of the fire wasn't immediately known