AGUANGA, Calif. – Residents in sparsely populated rural communities in Riverside and San Diego counties have been told to evacuate as several wildfires burned in Southern California desert heat.
Riverside County fire officials say a blaze near the community of Aguanga that started shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday has surged to 600 acres. Nine homes have been evacuated and at least one destroyed in the area east of Temecula.
News helicopters showed a two-story house enveloped in flames. Fire officials say three structures have burned, but did not say if any were homes.
Some 40 miles away in northeastern San Diego County, residents in the community of Ranchita have been told to evacuate as one of four lightning-sparked fires comes dangerously close to rural ranch houses. Those fires have burned about 2,350 acres.
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