Posted: Aug 14, 2012 6:17 PM by CJ, The Associated Press
Updated: Aug 14, 2012 11:52 PM
AGUANGA, Calif. (AP) - Residents in sparsely populated rural communities in Riverside and San Diego counties have been told to evacuate as several wildfires burned in Southern California desert heat.
Riverside County fire officials say a blaze near the community of Aguanga east of Temecula that started shortly before 1 p.m. Tuesday quickly surged to 1,800 acres, but firefighters aided by six air tankers including a DC-10 had it five percent contained.
Nine homes have been evacuated and at least one destroyed. News helicopters showed the two-story house enveloped in flames.
Some 40 miles away in northeastern San Diego County, residents in the community of Ranchita have been told to evacuate as one of four lightning-sparked fires comes dangerously close to rural ranch houses. Those fires have burned about 2,350 acres.
(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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