Murrieta Fire Dept. Helps Fight 160-Acre Trilogy Blaze

UPDATE: The fire was 50 percent contained at 160 acres as of 9 p.m. Thursday. Fire crews with the U.S. Forest Service were overseeing the firefighting effort, as the burn area was located on federal land, a Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire spokesperson said.

ORIGINAL POST:

One fire engine with three firefighters was assigned from Murrieta Fire Department to help fight a non-injury fire in Temescal Canyon Thursday, Murrieta Fire Chief Matt Shobert said.

The blaze had scorched nearly 200 acres of brush, as firefighters, hand crews, helicopter teams and air tankers strive to contain it.

The vegetation blaze began in an old orange orchard near Temescal Canyon Road and Trilogy Parkway, west of Glen Ivy Hot Springs and Tom's Farms.

No evacuations were ordered but a housing development -- Trilogy at Glen Ivy  Retirement Community-- is not far from the fire.

Fire officials said the winds were at 9 mph, with gusts of 13 miles per hour.

Fire officials said 180 firefighters, including hand crews, from Cal Fire, Murrieta and the U.S. Forest Service -- were battling the blaze with the help of an air tanker and three helicopters -- two from Cal Fire and one from Orange County fire.

The fire was reported at 12:21 p.m. and was 20 percent contained as of 3:10 p.m.

Chief Shobert reminded residents that fire season is here, and to be mindful that even small sparks can ignite fires.

Maggie Avants contributed to this report.