Crews battled a smoky and fast-growing wildfire Friday in windy Southern California that forced some residents to evacuate and temporarily closed a community college, authorities said. The Springs Fire started around 11 a.m. east of Moreno Valley in Riverside County, and by Friday evening it had expanded to about 6.5 square miles (16.8 square kilometers), with the cause still under investigation, according to Cal Fire and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Officials said the fire was burning in a populated but not densely so unincorporated area of Riverside County in a recreational area near Moreno Valley, a city of roughly 200,000 people. Moreno Valley sits about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of Riverside and about 64 miles (103 kilometers) east of Los Angeles.
As hundreds of firefighters and support crews worked the blaze, they used helicopters, engines and water tenders, according to the report. By Friday night, crews began working to contain it.
State and local officials said wind was a key factor in the hazard facing nearby areas. Maggie Cline De La Rosa, a public information officer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection in Riverside County, said, “It’s windy out there.” Alex Izaguirre, a spokesperson for Cal Fire Riverside County, said the wind is “spreading the smoke,” and he described calls from residents in neighboring cities who could see and smell it.
Moreno Valley College said its main campus was shuttered Friday and Saturday because the fire was affecting air quality. In an Instagram post, the school said, “All students, faculty, and staff are being directed to leave campus immediately.”
U.S. Rep. Raul Ruiz said on social media that he was closely monitoring the blaze and urged residents to follow evacuation orders. “If you are under an evacuation order, please leave immediately,” he said.
Separately, the National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for San Bernardino and Riverside County valleys through Saturday afternoon, warning that gusts up to 50 mph (80 kph) were expected. The advisory said, “Tree limbs could be blown down and a few power outages may result.” Officials also said it was not immediately known how many households were under evacuation warnings or orders.