Residents were evacuated on Friday as two brush fires, fuelled by 50mph winds, broke out in Southern California. The Springs fire near Moreno Valley in Riverside County has burned 4,176 acres, while the Crown fire, approximately 50 miles north of Los Angeles, has scorched 345 acres. These are the first wildfires of the season, occurring just over a year after the deadly January 2025 fires that killed 31 people and destroyed 13,000 homes in Los Angeles County.
Crews worked through the night to contain both blazes, with residents in Los Angeles County warned to “Gather family, pets and LEAVE NOW.” Some evacuation orders in Moreno Valley, home to around 200,000 people, remained in place on Saturday, according to Cal Fire. Residents shared photos on social media of the hillside ablaze.
The Springs fire was 75% contained as of Saturday morning, the Riverside County Fire Department reported. “Crews and aircraft worked throughout the night cutting line, laying hose, and dropping water & retardant on the active fire perimeter,” the update said. Gusts up to 45mph were predicted on Saturday, but Terra Fernandez, public safety information specialist for the Riverside County Fire Department, said winds had “dissipated a bit” since Friday, aiding firefighting efforts. “We're feeling confident. The winds have died down so it's assisting us in making more progress,” she said.
No structures have been damaged or destroyed so far, Fernandez confirmed. Less than a dozen zones in the county remained under mandatory evacuation orders, while warnings in other areas were lifted. The number of affected households was not immediately known.
Residents are still recovering from the devastating January 2025 fires, which were among the most destructive in state history. Fewer than a dozen homes have been rebuilt in Los Angeles County since the Palisades and Eaton fires erupted on 7 January last year. The Palisades Fire burned for 31 days, covering 37 square miles. Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass criticised insurance companies this week, saying “too many fire survivors are still waiting” for payouts.
