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Tenaja fire near Murrieta grows to 1,400 acres, 7% contained, evacuation orders remain in place

by in News

A pesky fire that has grown in spurts, in the grassy hills of La Cresta before heading for Murrieta, has scorched 1,400 acres and was only 7% contained as of Thursday morning, Sept. 5, fire officials said.

Evacuation orders, issued Wednesday night, remained in place.

Evacuation orders had been given to Murrieta residents in Copper Canyon, south of Calle del Oso Oro between Clinton Keith Road and Murrieta Creek Drive.

In addition, there was also a mandatory evacuation order in place for homes on The Trails Circle in La Cresta. The Santa Rosa Plateau Visitor Center at 39400 Clinton Keith Road was also ordered evacuated; the visitor center is part of the Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Reserve in the Riverside County regional park system.

  • Lisa Hampson (left) receives a hug from her mother Kimberly Maag as Maag evacuates her home on Single Oak Way as the Tenaja Fire burns down a ridge towards homes in Murrieta Wednesday night Sept. 4, 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

  • Residents watch as the Tenaja Fire burns behind homes near the corner of Silverwood and Cooperwood Streets in Murrieta Wednesday night Sept. 4, 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

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  • Residents and onlookers watch as the Tenaja Fire burns in and above Cole Canyon at the top of Vineyard Parkway in Murrieta Wednesday evening Sept. 4, 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

  • A Murrieta Fire Department engine pulls down Sherry Lane as the Tenaja Fire burns in and above Cole Canyon in the Murrieta area Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

  • Residents on Sherry Lane watch as the Tenaja Fire burns in and above Cole Canyon behind their homes on Sherry Lane in Murrieta Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)

  • Flames burn a brushy area west of the I-15 freeway in Murrieta near the community of La Cresta Wednesday September 4, 2019 Andrew Foulk Contributing Photographer

  • Flames glow as a fire burns near the community of La Cresta in Murrieta Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)

  • Flames burn a brush area west of the I-15 freeway in Murrieta near the community of La Cresta Wednesday September 4, 2019. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)

  • Smoke from a brush fire burning in the La Cresta area near Murrieta fills the sky on Wednesday afternoon Sept. 4, 2019. (Photo by Andrew Foulk, Contributing Photographer)

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So far, there have been no reports of damaged structures or injuries.

The latest fire statistics, provided by Cal Fire/Riverside, were as of 6:20 a.m.

To see Riverside County’s evacuation map for the fire, go here.

Help for evacuated residents was available in Murrieta at Murrieta Mesa High School, where a care and reception center was set up, officials said.

Small animals were accepted there, while accommodations for larger animals were available at the San Jacinto Animal Shelter.

Wednesday night, the Murrieta Valley Unified School District canceled classes for Thursday for all of its campuses. Officials wanted to ensure the safety of their students and staffers, and they also noted that with the various street closures, it would have been difficult for some to get to school.

The fire was first reported at 3:56 p.m. Wednesday and grew quickly with the sustained winds to 994 acres by 8:50 p.m.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.