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Firefighters Battling 70-Acre, 24-Acre Brush Fires in Temecula

No evacuations have been ordered.

Multiple fire protection agencies battled separate brush fires in unincorporated areas of Temecula.

The Tornado and Woodchuck fires both sparked Friday afternoon, Cal Fire said.

The Riverside County Fire Department and Cal Fire Riverside responded to the larger Tornado Fire near the 28000 block of Via Santa Rosa just before 3 p.m. when it was reported as a 1-acre fire burning in an orchard. It had grown to 70 acres and holding and was 20 percent contained as of 10:45 p.m., according to Cal Fire.

Cal Fire units from Riverside and San Diego, and units from the Riverside City Fire Department, Murrieta Fire Protection District and Pechanga Fire Department were assisting on the fire.

The smaller Woodchuck Fire sparked hours later near Highway 79 and Woodchuck Road.

It was first reported as a 3 to 5-acre fire burning light, flashy fuels. Cal Fire Riverside tweeted at 8 p.m. that it had grown to 24.5 acres, but forward spread had been stopped and firefighters had reached 60-percent containment.

The fire was 60 percent contained as of 10:45 p.m.

Cal Fire Units from Riverside and San Bernardino, and units from the Riverside City Fire Department were assisting.

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