Brush fire in Murrieta threatens homes

Firefighters in Murrieta are working to extinguish a brush fire that has grown to more than 150 acres, threatening 100-plus homes, authorities said Sunday evening.

The blaze was first reported at 4:40 p.m. near the Warm Springs Preserve, Murrieta Fire Chief Matt Shobert said. No injuries have been reported so far, but several homes are believed to be damaged.

Shobert said he was hopeful the fire would be at least partially contained within the next few hours. A total of 30 fire engines and five aircraft were working to extinguish it.

“With the sun going down, the winds dying down, it’s not burning as aggressively,” he said.

A voluntary evacuation center has been set up at Vista Murrieta High School, he added. Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of the blaze.

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--Sam Allen