Crime & Safety

Murrieta Fire Crews Assist in 20-Acre Blaze in Perris

A Type 3 engine from Murrieta was sent to help out with the blaze, Murrieta Fire Chief Matt Shobert said.

A Murrieta fire engine was sent to help crews battling a 20-acre blaze in Perris this afternoon that injured one firefighter.

The brush fire was reported at 4:25 p.m. on Ethanac Road and Saddleback Way on the southern edge of Perris, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

Around 20 acres had burned within an hour. No structures were threatened by the blaze. The fire was contained as of 6:20 p.m., but crews were to remain on scene for at least three hours.

Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Eleven engine crews from Cal Fire Riverside County Fire Department, along with crews from Corona and Murrieta were working the blaze, according to a county fire spokeswoman.

There was no word on how the firefighter was hurt, or the nature of his injuries.

Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The injured firefighter was not from Murrieta, according to Fire Chief Matt Shobert, who said three firefighters were sent to help with the blaze. 

Murrieta sent a Type 3 engine, which is smaller and built specifically for vegetation fires, Shobert said. 

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Sharing resources is common, Shobert said.

Earlier today, Murrieta crews were assisted by county crews when a fire broke out at a commercial building on Guava and Jefferson Avenue. Before they knew the extent of the damage, all area resources were assigned to the blaze, Shobert said.

The fire was ignited by a cigarette that was tossed in landscaping bark near the building. It lit a PVC pipe on fire, and charred 12 feet of the pipe that runs up an exterior wall of the building.

"It generated a lot of smoke but it was put out quickly," Shobert said.

There was minimal damage to the building, he said.

City News Service contributed to this report.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

To request removal of your name from an arrest report, submit these required items to arrestreports@patch.com.