Wildomar brush fire: Officials lift evacuation orders
WILDOMAR, Calif. (FOX 11 / AP) - A wildfire burning south of Lake Elsinore in the Cleveland National Forest had grown to 850 acres and was 50 percent contained by Friday evening.
Authorities lifted evacuated orders for about 200 homes in the La Cresta area of Murrieta Friday evening.
MOBILE USERS - CLICK HERE FOR FACEBOOK VIDEO.
"Residents may continue to see smoke coming from the interior of the burn until materials are fully consumed," fire officials said in a news release. "Remember, use caution and good judgement, hazards may still exist."
Nearly 1,000 firefighters are battling the flames. Four water-dropping helicopters and 4 water-dropping DC-10s provided support from above.
The terrain in the area is steep and filled with thick brush, making it a challenging fire to contain.
The wildfire erupted Thursday afternoon. CHP officials said it started when a dirt bike on an off-road trail hit a bump and crashed into a tree. The throttle stuck and the engine's revving ignited leaking gasoline. A spokesperson for the Cleveland National Forest, however, could not confirm that.
The rider had minor injuries.
Copyright 2017 FOX 11 Los Angeles : Download our mobile app for breaking news alerts or to watch FOX 11 News | Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.