Brush Fire Prompts Evacuations in Temecula Area

"Buck Fire" grows to 1800 acres

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in the Temecula area as more than 200 firefighters work to contain a 1,800-acre brush fire, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

"Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for residents north of Sage Road, south of Stanley Road, east of Benton Road and west of Reed Valley Road," according to an alert from fire officials.

As of 5 p.m., the fire, dubbed "Buck Fire," has consumed 1,800 acres in the Aguanga area and is 5 percent contained. Six air tankers, including a large DC-10 helped firefighters battle the blaze in the rural area.

Three structures were damaged and nine homes were evacuated as of about 5 p.m. At 5:45 p.m. aerial footage showed another house burning down.

An evacuation center is located at 30875 Rancho Vista Rd. in Temecula.

When crews first arrived, 10 acres had already burned, and firefighters saw light, flashy fuels burning at a moderate to rapid rate.

The green arrow on the map below shows roughly where the fire is located.

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