600-acre Verona Fire burns near Hemet; evacuation orders lifted

A brush fire has burned more than 500 acres and prompted evacuation orders and warnings for people living near Hemet after igniting on Tuesday afternoon. 

The blaze, which was dubbed the Verona Fire by firefighters, was first reported at around 12:20 p.m. near Verona Road and Juniper Springs Road in the unincorporated areas of Green Acres and Homeland, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department officials. 

Firefighters said that the fire was burning at a "moderate to dangerous rate of spread in heavy fuels" as crews worked to battle the flames from ground and air. 

Cal Fire said that one firefighter was hospitalized for minor injuries sustained in the firefight, but did not note the nature of the injury.

A cause of the fire remains under investigation. One civilian injury was reported, but firefighters said the person declined medical attention. No structures have been reported as damaged by fire officials, but video from the scene showed what looked to be multiple outbuildings and vehicles destroyed by flames.

As of 3:30 p.m., Cal Fire said that the fire was burning with no containment. At 3:45 p.m, they said that they had stopped the forward progress of the flames, but at around 7:15 p.m. said that the fire had "jumped control lines" and was "burning at a critical rate of spread."

Despite posting on X that the fire had burned more than 600 acres, firefighters later clarified that aerial fire-mapping revealed that the blaze had burned approximately 439 acres as of 11:30 p.m. Tuesday night.

"Crews will be working diligently throughout the night to establish and strengthen containment lines," Cal Fire officials said.

On Wednesday evening, firefighters said the fire was 600 acres and 30% contained.

Evacuation orders and warnings

At around 2:30 p.m., Cal Fire issued evacuation orders and warnings for residents living in the area near the seat of the fire. On Wednesday night, they downgraded all evacuation orders, but some warnings still remained in place, including for people in:

• RVC-1187-B
• RVC-1285
• RVC-1286
• HMT-1287
• HMT-1288

An evacuation shelter was established at West Valley High School in Hemet, which is located on 3401 Mustang Way. An animal shelter was also set up at the San Jacinto Animal Shelter on 581 S. Grand Avenue in San Jacinto.

Brush fires erupt across Southern California

The Verona Fire was just one of several brush fires to break out since the start of Monday, when the Sandy Fire exploded to engulf more than 1,300 acres in Ventura County. On Tuesday, shortly before the Verona Fire started, Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters rushed to Jurupa Valley to battle the Bain Fire, which has since grown to torch 600 acres and caused four civilian injuries.