A 1,000-acre fire is burning east of Moreno Valley, fire officials said, and has sparked evacuations in the area.
A large area east of Lake Perris was ordered to evacuate as the fire continued to spread, a spokesperson said.
Dubbed the “Springs fire,” flames were first reported in the 15900 block of Gilman Springs Road in Riverside County, just before 11 a.m, a spokesperson with the Riverside County Fire Department said. Gusty Santa Ana winds were forecast for much of Southern California on Friday.
The fire was described as about 50 acres in size during its first hour, but it exploded to 1,000 acres by 1 p.m., according to a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The fire was burning in an area with “flashy fuel,” the spokesperson said, and fire officials were sending several ground and air resources to keep the fire from spreading.
Fire officials requested mandatory evacuations for a large area north of Ramona Expressway and east of Lake Perris Friday afternoon. Moreno Valley residents south of John F. Kennedy Drive were also under mandatory evacuation orders.
Residents north of John F. Kennedy Drive and west of Sinclair Street and Redlands Boulevard were under an evacuation warning as of 1 p.m.
Lt. Deirdre Vickers of the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department said several evacuations were being requested for the Lake Perris area. The Sheriff’s Department was also assisting firefighters with road closures in and around Hemet and the Moreno Valley.
Officials closed down Gilman Springs Road from Alessandro Road to Bridge Street.
Fire officials have requested additional resources, but were currently trying to suppress the flames with two air tankers, 23 fire engines, two helicopters and two bulldozers, a spokesperson said.
The fire erupted as much of Southern California is expected to face strong Santa Ana winds this weekend.
Riverside County valleys were under a wind advisory by the National Weather Service Friday, with constant northeast winds expected to blow between 15 and 30 mph, with gusts up to 50 mph at times.
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