Winchester House Fire Ignites 43 Acre Brush Fire, Now 90% Contained

WINCHESTER, CA — A fire that erupted Tuesday in an outbuilding behind a Winchester home spread into surrounding vegetation and forced the partial closure of Highway 79 before it was contained.

The non-injury blaze was reported about 4:40 p.m. in the 33100 block of 9th Street, just off of Highway 79, according to the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said multiple engine crews from the county and Hemet Fire Department were sent to the location and encountered flames raging in the outbuilding, extending into an adjacent field abutting the highway.

Witnesses reported several explosions, which officials attributed to propane tanks burning on the property.

Sheriff's deputies and California Highway Patrol officers partially closed Highway 79 at the location for public safety and to give firefighters space to operate.

The blaze was fully contained by 5:30 p.m. All evactua

The cause of the fire was under investigation.