Crime & Safety
Brush Fire Near Winchester Stopped At 122 Acres
The smoke was visible across Southwest Riverside County and north to the San Gorgonio Pass Area.
WINCHESTER, CA — A brush fire reported around 3 p.m. Monday near Winchester caused smoke to billow across the region before crews were able to halt its spread.
Dubbed the Stowe Fire, the blaze was burning at California Avenue and Lyn Avenue, in unincorporated Hemet area, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.
The spot is located near state Route 74.
Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
#StoweFire [UPDATE] The fire is now 105 acres. pic.twitter.com/dqnYe5E3jM
— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) June 28, 2021
VEGETATION FIRE - Rptd 3:01 PM. California Ave x Stowe Rd in the unincorporated county area of Hemet. Firefighters are on scene of approx 5 acres of light flashy fuels burning near the county & city boundaries. Ground and air resources are on scene. #StoweFire pic.twitter.com/sFymvHFCfC
— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) June 28, 2021
The fire burned 122 acres before ground and air crews stopped its forward rate of spread around 5 p.m., according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.
Crews will remain on scene late Monday night to fully contain the blaze, the agency said.
Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Several power lines were damaged in the fire and electrical service was shut off. Southern California Edison crews were working to repair the lines and restore power. The outage is affecting approximately 2,000 - 3,000 residents of East Hemet, west to Winchester Road, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.
There was no word on what caused the blaze.
No evacuations were ordered and no injuries were immediately reported.
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