LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. (AP) — A wildfire threatening 250 homes in Riverside County is only 5 percent contained but it didn't grow much overnight.
Fire spokesman Marc Peebles tells The Press-Enterprise (http://bit.ly/1c7CcCQ ) that the blaze near Lake Elsinore has burned 1,460 acres, or more than two square miles of land.
It's burned a few outbuildings and continues to threaten homes in its path in the communities of Decker Canyon and Lakeland Village.
However, evacuation orders for Lakeland Village have been lifted.
The fire began Monday near the lake in Cleveland National Forest.
Hundreds of firefighters aided by aircraft are battling the blaze.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
THIS IS A STORY UPDATE. AN EARLIER AP STORY IS POSTED BELOW.
LAKE ELSINORE, Calif. (AP) — A wildfire was fast approaching canyon neighborhoods in inland Southern California, forcing the evacuation of hundreds of homes.
The U.S. Forest Service says the brush fire started near Lake Elsinore in the Cleveland National Forest mid-morning Monday and several hours later with temperatures near 100 degrees it had surged to about 1,200 acres and was creeping very close to homes.
Two communities of about 50 houses apiece are under evacuation orders along with parts of Lakeland Village, which is home to more than 11,000 people, but it's not clear how many have evacuated there.
The fire was raining ash and generating brown haze over residential streets.
About 265 firefighters worked the blaze helped by five helicopters and five planes including a DC-10 that is covering the wildfire in red retardant.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
