UPDATE 10/31/2007 - 2:15 p.m.

The City of Murrieta is in no immediate threat of any wildland fire incident. There are no evacuations ordered for Riverside County and no structure threat to residents in the City.  Only the Police or Fire Department have the authority to order an evacuation.

On Tuesday, October 30, 2007 the City Council held a special meeting to ratify the Declaration of Local Emergency issued by the Director of Emergency Services on Thursday, October 25, 2007. During this meeting the Council also determined the conditions which necessitated the Declaration of Local Emergency had subsided, and terminated the City's emergency status. The Fire and Police Department's remain vigilant in fire prevention efforts and are prepared should any new fires threaten the City or its residents. 

UPDATE 10/29/2007 - 2:15 p.m.

Backfires are being utilized to contain the spread of both the Poomacha and Santiago Fires.

UPDATE 10/28/2007 - 9:00 a.m.

The Rice Fire is now 90% contained will full containment expected tomorrow. All residents of Fallbrook have been allowed to return home and the Evacuation Center at Vista Murrieta High School has been closed. Evacuation Centers in Temecula have been consolidated into one location at the Community Recreation Center at Ronald Reagan Sports Park.

Firefighters contined to gain ground on the Poomacha Fire at Palomar Mountain and the Santiago Fire in Orange County. Neither of these fires is a threat to the community and full containment of these fires is expected within the next few days as well.

There may be lingering smoke and haze in the valley through today and residents may find it more comfortable to remain indoors. Please use caution when working outside and do not hesitate to contact 9-1-1 should a medical emergency arise.

UPDATE 10/27/2007 - 9:00 a.m.

Cooler temperatures and higher humidity have again aided the efforts of firefighters in both San Diego and Orange Counties.  The Rice Fire in Fallbrook is now 80% contained.  The fire’s size remains at 9,000 acres.  CAL-Fire and the North County Fire Protection District expect full containment by tomorrow, 10/28/2007. 

The Poomacha Fire is 35% contained and structure protection in the Mt. Palomar and Palomar Observatory areas are the top priority again today. This fire continues to fill the valley with smoke and haze and will be the cause of unhealthy air quality again today.

As of the time of this report, eight people remained housed at the Vista Murrieta Evacuation Center. Due to current fire behavior, no new fire evacuations are anticipated at this time and staff at the Evacuation Center are working diligently throughout the day to assist the remaining evacuees in returning home.

With the immediate fire threat diminishing throughout the day, it is anticipated these reports will become less frequent. New information will be posted as it becomes available.

UPDATE 10/26/2007 - 5:26 p.m.

The Poomacha Fire will most likely display flames tonight, however it will not be entering the Temecula Valley and is not a threat to the City of Murrieta or the City of Temecula.  The efforts of firefighters are expected to hold this fire to the mountain area of Mt. Palomar and not allow it to enter the communities at the base of the mountain. Smoke and haze will continue to an issue throughout Southwest California tonight and into the weekend. 

Temperatures are expected to drop further tomorrow and humidity will increase, assisting the efforts of firefighters. 

There are approximately 40 people remaining in the shelter at Vista Murrieta High School, however evacuations continue to be lifted in the Fallbrook and Valley Center communities.

As a reminder, residents are urged to limit their outdoor activities during periods of heavy smoke and avoid strenuous activity. Please contact 9-1-1 immediately if medical attention becomes necessary.

The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training scheduled for October 27th and November 3rd at the Fire Department has been cancelled. 

UPDATE 10/26/2007 - 12:25 p.m.

UPDATE 10/26/2007 - 6:30 a.m.

Cooler overnight temperatures and higher humidity have allowed firefighters to gain ground on the Poomacha Fire near Palomar Mtn and the Rice Fire in Fallbrook. The Poomacha Fire is now 30% contained and is 38,500 acres in size. Structure protection in the Mt. Palomar area continues to be a priority while some residents in Valley Center and the Pauma Valley have been allowed to return home.  Additional evacuations of the La Jolla Indian Reservation in San Diego County were ordered last night however residents were directed to eastern San Diego County and no new evacuees were housed at the Vista Murrieta Evacuation Center.

The Rice Fire is now 40% contained and remains at approximately 9,000 acres in size. Residents of the southern and western areas of Fallbrook were allowed back into their homes yesterday afternoon and evening and no new evacuees joined the Evacuation Center.

Currently approximately 40 people are housed at Vista Murrieta High School with many hoping to return home today.  

Due to the continued on-shore wind the valley will remain smoky and hazy throughout the day. There are no fires burning in the Valley and the Poomacha and Rice fires are NOT a threat to either Murrieta or Temecula at this time.  Residents are asked to remain indoors and limit their outside activities during this period of poor air quality. School activities and classes in the Murrieta, Temecula, Lake Elsinore and Menifee School Districts have been cancelled for today.

Residents may also see smoke from the Santiago Fire in Orange County, however that fire remains in Orange County and is no threat to the City of Corona or the Temescal Valley. Rumors of the fire cresting the hill into Riverside County are false at this time. There are no evacuations ordered for any location within Riverside County.  

People trying to located evacuated family members can register and search the Red Cross “Safe and Well” list at www.redcross.org or by calling 866-GET-INFO.

Due to continued fire activity and limited staff availability, the Community Emergency Response Team or CERT training, scheduled for October 27 and November 3 at the Fire Department has been cancelled.

UPDATE 10/25/2007 - 5:15 p.m.

The increased smoke and haze throughout the valley is a result of a wind shift that is bringing an increased on-shore flow. Both the Rice Fire in Fallbrook and the Poomacha Fire in Valley Center/Palomar Mountain are generating large quantities of smoke however the fires themselves are not growing in size. The Rice Fire is 30% contained  and the Poomacha Fire is now also 20% contained.  There is no fire threat to the City of Murrieta or the City of Temecula at this time. 

There is an confirmed FALSE rumor that evacuations have been ordered in the Trilogy area of Temescal Canyon near Corona. This is a result of the Santiago Fire generating increased smoke, however the fire remains outside the County of Riverside and is not a threat to Corona or the Temescal Valley at this time. 

Residents are asked to remain indoors as much as possible and avoid outdoor activity. If residents experience difficulty breathing or other smoke-related health problems, please contact the Fire Department at 9-1-1 immediately.

This message will be updated as new information becomes available.

UPDATE 10/25/2007 - 9:25 a.m.

UPDATE 10/24/2007 - 1:30 p.m.

The city continues to experience heavy smoke and visibility problems due to the fires directly south and west of the city. There is no fire threat to the city of Murrieta at this time.

The smoke columns are related to the fires that are not in the city and are being monitored closely in the event of any change.

There is a fire to the north of the city at Wesley Ave and Grand Ave in the Wildomar area. It is being addressed by the Riverside County Fire Department. The fire is approximately 100 acres. And there is no significant threat to the city at this time.

We are in constant Communication with Cal Fire Riverside County and will be able to respond if any new fires appear in the area adjacent to the city.

The evacuation shelter  at Vista Murrieta High School is open and has the capacity of 350 people.

UPDATE 10/24/2007 - 8:00 a.m.

The Police Department has taken the following proactive steps:

• The Investigative Bureau assigned its Special Enforcement Team to check up on and interview the two State-mandated Arson Registrants listed as residing in the community.  During this follow-up, Investigators determined that one registrant was returned to prison and the other had moved out of state.
• Extra Patrols have been established throughout the City to check on any potential suspicous vehicles or persons--particularly in open brush, high fire potential rural areas.Vehicle license plates will be recorded of vehicles driving through these areas and individuals may be contacted to determine their identity.
• Off-road motorcycle officers will be patrolling some of the out-lying areas, such as those behind Greer Ranch, Bear Creek, and Copper Canyon.
• Police volunteers are assisting with these extra City Patrols.
• Police and Fire Department Staff are maintaining a presence at the Red Cross Evacuation Shelter located at Vista Murrieta High School located at Clinton Keith east of I-215, where food, shelter, blankets, cots, and areas for pets are established for any evacuees.

UPDATE - 10/23/2007 - 8:00 p.m.

The City of Murrieta has opened an evacuation center at Vista Murrieta High School, 28251 Clinton Keith Road, and can accomodate up to 300 people. Evacuees are encouraged to come to Vista Murrieta High School and spend the night in a comfortable gymnasium. Meals are provided and cots, blankets, showers and clean restrooms are also available.  For additional information, contact 951-232-0065 or the Police Communication Center at 951-696-3615.

UPDATE - 10/23/2007 - 3:53 p.m.

An evacuation shelter has been established at Vista Murrieta High School, located at 28251 Clinton Keith Road.  The American Red Cross is in the process of providing support to this shelter and it is anticipated to open later this evening.     

UPDATE - 10/23/2007 - 7:30 a.m. -

Our additional staffing continues in effect today with an additional Brush Truck fully staffed and 4-0 staffing on two of our Engines. The Water Tender is also staffed with an additional Engineer

10/22/2007

UPDATE - 2:55 P.M. - Firefighters from the North County Fire Department are responding to a fire in the community of Fallbrook and there is no estimate on containment at this time. Although this fire poses no threat to the City of Murrieta at this time, residents may see smoke above the ridgeline on the City's western border.  The Murrieta Fire Department is monitoring the fire closely and is prepared to respond if necessary. 

UPDATE - 1:05 P.M. -

Due to intermittent closures of the I-15 south of lower Hiighway 79,  residents may experience heavier than normal traffic along city streets. Please use caution when driving in affected areas and if possible postpone any unnecessary trips until a later time.

UPDATE - 9:20 A.M. - The Murrieta Fire Department has taken several precautionary measures in response to the increased wildland fire activity throughout Southern California.  An additional Type III wildland brush truck has been fully staffed and is in operation out of Station 3 and additional firefighters have been added to existing fire crews operating out of Station 2 and Station 4.  An additional Engineer has also been assigned to Station 1 in the event specialized apparatus such as the Water Tender or Light Air Unit are needed in the field. We remain in direct communication with the Riverside County Fire Department and Riverside Operational Area to coordinate resource needs and to request assistance if it becomes necessary.

All units are proactively patrolling the City throughout the day, watching for any fire activity.  There are currently no fires burning in or near the City and there is no threat to any Murrieta structures at this time.

The Southern California area is experiencing an unprecedented Santa Ana wind event combined with increased drought conditions and residents are asked to remain vigilant in their fire prevention efforts and report any suspicious activity to the authorities by dialing 9-1-1. The heavy winds are expected to continue through Tuesday afternoon and there may be periods of limited visibility due to dust and wind-driven debris. Residents should use caution when driving and avoid being outdoors for extended periods of time. 

Updates will be provided as additional information affecting the City becomes available.