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By Miriam Raftery, East County Wildfire & Emergency Alerts
October 31, 2023 (Aguanga) -- The #HighlandFire in Aguanga has swelled to over 2,200 acres overnight and is 0% contained in Riverside County just over the San Diego County line. Aguanga is just north of Warner Springs; smoke is impacting areas west of Aguanga including Escondido and Palomar. Highway 79 is closed in both directions.
Road closures are in effect and evacuation orders have been issued north of the San Diego County line, south of State Route 79, east of Forest Route 8S07 and west of Crosley Truck Trail. (See evacuation details at https://www.rvcfire.org/incidents/fact-sheets/HighliandFire-Oct2023.)
A reception and care center has opened at: Great Oak High School 32555 Deer Hollow Way, Temecula, Ca 92592. Large and small animals can be taken to: San Jacinto Animal Shelter 581 South Grand Avenue, San Jacinto, Ca 92582
Video posted by FirePhotoGirl on social media shows structures in flames. Cal Fire reports structures remain threatened threatened.
The fire started yesterday afternoon at Highland Road and Aguanga Ranchos Road in Aguanga. CalFire Riverside is the lead agency battling the blaze.
Karla, an Aguanga resident who lives in the Rancho California RV Resort known as The Ranch, told ECM via email that the fire is about a quarter mile from Sage Road and Highway 79. “”Many from The Ranch could not get home and had to seek lodging elsewhere for the night. We are still waiting for word on the outcome at the Jojoba Hills RV Resort, which is across the 79 from us and right in the path of the fire….At 5 a.m. this morning I could still see flames at the top of the ridge to the east of us (near where the fire started) and, since then, I've heard constant aircraft.”
She adds, “I just received an update from WD (5:36 am):”
"Air Attack reports the fire is now 500' east of Sage Road with more growth since the last mapping of 2,200 acres. He is also reporting that the fire is getting more active."
Evacuation map:
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