California Wildfire 75% Contained as Evacuation Orders Lifted
Springs Fire burns 6.3 square miles in Riverside County; crews gain upper hand as Santa Ana winds subside
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — April 5, 2026 — A fast-moving wildfire that forced evacuations in Riverside County, east of Los Angeles, has been largely contained after crews worked through the weekend to build containment lines around the blaze, fire officials said on Saturday, April 4.
The Springs Fire, which broke out around 11 a.m. on Friday, April 3, near the city of Moreno Valley, has burned approximately 6.3 square miles (about 16 square kilometers) of unincorporated land in Riverside County, about 64 miles (103 kilometers) east of Los Angeles, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. The fire reached 75% containment by Saturday afternoon, up from just 10% on Friday evening.
“It’s pretty much under control,” Terra Fernandez, public safety information specialist for the Riverside County Fire Department, told the Associated Press on Saturday.
Fire Conditions and Response
The fire was initially fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, with gusts reaching up to 45 mph (72 kph). However, winds had “dissipated a bit” since Friday, aiding firefighting efforts, Fernandez said.
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Approximately 260 personnel are battling the blaze, including crews from around the region who are building and strengthening containment lines and laying hose. Aerial crews began dropping water and retardant around the fire early Saturday.
The National Weather Service had issued a wind advisory for San Bernardino and Riverside County valleys through Saturday afternoon, with gusts of up to 50 mph (80 kph) expected, warning that tree limbs could be blown down and power outages may result.
Natural equestrian trails in the area helped firefighters access the fire and build effective containment lines around its perimeter, Fernandez said.
Evacuations Lifted, No Structural Damage
Fire officials lifted evacuation orders for a large swath of neighborhoods on Saturday morning, with expectations that remaining orders would be rescinded by the end of the day. A handful of zones in the county remained under mandatory evacuation orders, though it was not immediately known how many households were affected.
So far, no structures have been damaged or destroyed. Moreno Valley College’s main campus was shuttered Friday and Saturday due to the fire impacting air quality.
The fire is located in a populated unincorporated part of Riverside County that is a recreational area near the city of Moreno Valley, which has a population of roughly 200,000.
Cause Under Investigation
The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The National Weather Service had noted “moderate to strong Santa Ana winds affected much of the area” on Friday, contributing to the fire’s rapid spread.
Current Status
As of Saturday afternoon, the Springs Fire was no longer growing, with crews continuing to strengthen containment lines. The fire had reached 75% containment, significantly improved from 25% on Friday.
A separate blaze, dubbed the Crown Fire, burned 345 acres (1.4 square kilometers) in Los Angeles County and was 25% contained as of Friday evening, with all evacuation orders lifted but evacuation warnings remaining in place for parts of the surrounding area.
SOURCES / INPUTS
TimesNowNews/AP: Southern California Springs Fire Nears Full Containment as Evacuations Lifted
Xinhua: Fast-moving wildfires prompt evacuations, warnings in S. California
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