E-Paper
Is there a fire in Lake Elsinore today? Residents report smoke and 'dark skies'
Residents of Lake Elsinore report smoke and dark skies. No fire is active in the city. The smoke likely comes from nearby Riverside or Los Angeles fires.
Residents of Lake Elsinore, California, have reported seeing smoke and darkened skies, prompting many to take to social media to ask whether a fire is burning in the city.
One resident wrote on Facebook, "Has anyone seen the sky it’s dark almost brown and grey like a fire."
Another added, "Is all this smoke from the Moreno Valley fire?"
What we know
There is currently no active wildfire or uncontrolled fire in Lake Elsinore.
According to CAL FIRE, two new incidents were reported on April 3:
Springs Fire in Riverside County — approximately 1,500 acres, 0% contained
Crown Fire in Los Angeles County — 280 acres
Neither fire is reported within Lake Elsinore or posing an immediate threat. However, the smoke observed in the city could be drifting from these nearby fires.
Springs Fire
The Springs Fire ignited around 11 a.m. EDT on Friday along Gilman Springs Road in Moreno Valley, California. As of 4:35 p.m. EDT, the blaze has grown to approximately 1,500 acres and could potentially expand to 5,000 acres. According to Incident Command, the fire is moving across the flats of Lake Perris toward the northwest.
Evacuation Orders are in effect for the following zones:
MOE-0747, MOE-0507, MOE-0745, RVC-0826, RVC-0748, RVC-0825
Evacuation Warnings have been issued for the following zones:
MOE-0746, MOE-0638, MOE-0637, MOE-0640, MOE-0506, MOE-0744, MOE-0504, MOE-0505, MOE-0641, MOE-0639
Road closures include:
Gilman Springs Road / Alessandro Blvd.
Alessandro Road / Redlands Boulevard
Bridge Road / Gilman Springs Road
Ramona Expressway / Davis Road
Crown Fire
The Crown Fire broke out in Los Angeles County on Friday morning. The fire has grown to 280 acres with a low rate of spread and a potential to reach 600 acres, according to Incident Command.
Evacuation Orders have been issued for Zone LAC-E087. Evacuation Warnings are in effect for Zones LAC-E086 and LAC-E089.
