A fast-growing wildfire in windy Southern California triggers evacuations

RIVERSIDE, Calif.

RIVERSIDE, Calif. — A smoky and fast-growing wildfire Friday in windy Southern California has prompted multiple evacuation orders and warnings.

Subscribe to read this story ad-free

Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.

The Springs Fire broke out at around 11 a.m. Friday and by the evening had grown to about 5.47 square miles (14.17 square kilometers), with fire crews starting to contain it. The cause of the fire east of Moreno Valley in Riverside County is under investigation. It was not immediately known how many households are under evacuation warnings or orders.

Firefighters battle the blaze at the site of the Springs Fire in Moreno Valley, CA., on Friday. Qian Weizhong / VCG via Getty ImagesThe fire was burning in a populated — but not densely so — unincorporated part of Riverside County, in a recreational area near the city of Moreno Valley, which has a population of roughly 200,000. The city is 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of Riverside and 64 miles (103 kilometers) east of Los Angeles.