Pala Fire 45 Percent Contained, 45 Acres Burned

Total of 8 structures burned, including house where fire began and 3 injuries

Crews continue to battle a house fire Wednesday that spread to surrounding brush in Pala, California, burning 45 acres, Cal Fire confirmed.

As of  5:55 p.m. Wednesday, the fire was 45-percent contained and was not spreading.

According to Cal Fire, there were three injuries.

Seven outbuildings in the area, all owned by San Diego County, and the home where the fire started were burned.

Firefighters said they were unsure of what the outbuildings were used for but they had not been occupied since the 1980s.

According to Cal Fire, there were 125 firefighters working to put out any hot spots.

The fire sparked inside a home on 38850 Pala Temecula Rd., around 1:55 p.m. Tuesday and then spread to the surrounding brush, Cal Fire officials said.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered around 4 p.m. and lifted at 6:30 p.m. An evacuation shelter was set up at Great Oak High School on Deer Hallow Way in Temecula.

Pala Temecula Rd. between Pala Mission Rd., and Pechanga was closed off for everyone except for residents since Tuesday night.

It was reopened at approximately 11:55 a.m. Wednesday.

Firefighters said this brush fire is a reminder that of how dry the brush is around California.

Cal Fire Firefighter Isaac Sanchez said fires are sparking statewide, even this early on in the year and residents should begin making preparations.

“Now is the time to work on that escape plan. To get your important documents ready to go in the event there are evacuations like we did have yesterday,” Cal Fire Firefighter Isaac Sanchez said.

No other information was available.

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