Murrieta Brush Fire Likely Started At Homeless Encampment

Murrieta CA

28 December, 2020

2:40 PM

Description

MURRIETA, CA — A brush fire that broke out over the holiday weekend likely started at a homeless encampment, according to an official. The non-injury incident was reported around 12:30 a.m. Saturday in a field near Adams Avenue and Cherry Street. Murrieta Fire & Rescue crews were forced to hike into the brush and utilize a firefighting technique known as "progressive hose lay," adding multiple lengths of hose together in order to bring enough water to the scene and extinguish the flames, according to photographer Joe Fanaselle, who was on the scene. The roughly 1-acre blaze was knocked down within about an hour, and crews remained at the scene for an additional hour to mop up hotspots and fully contain the incident, Fanaselle reported. According to Murrieta Fire & Rescue Battalion Chief Steve Kean, it's suspected that the fire, which remains under investigation, occurred at a homeless encampment. Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department also responded to the blaze.