On January 23 at approximately 5:45 p.m., Murrieta Fire & Rescue responded to a vegetation fire in the area of Fig Street and Hoover Avenue. Driven by powerful Santa Ana winds, the fire quickly spread to a structure and threatened nearby properties.
Despite significant regional resource strain due to simultaneous fires in Riverside County, mutual aid from Cal Fire, Corona Fire, and Pechanga Fire helped to contain. However, first responders faced challenges, such as hazardous wind conditions and limited water supply because in this area of the city, residents rely on private wells.
The Murrieta Police Department conducted evacuations, issuing in-person evacuation notices. At the same time, the Genasys Alerting Software, implemented by Murrieta Fire & Rescue through a partnership with Riverside County Emergency Management Department, delivered geo-targeted alerts across multiple platforms to ensure public awareness.
The Murrieta Police Department’s Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) was crucial in fire containment efforts. The overhead thermal imaging technology was used to determine the fire perimeter spread and identify hotspots. This resource guided firefighting crews to residual heat and allowed crews to search for embers that had landed outside the containment line.
The fire was successfully contained to two acres, with one structure and several outbuildings lost. No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
