Tenaja fire containment at 56%; acreage unchanged

The Tenaja fire containment jumped to 56% Sunday morning and its footprint near Murrieta in southwest Riverside County remained unchanged overnight at 1,940 acres authorities reported.

Fire activity overnight was described as minimal, and firefighters will continue working in the area to secure containment over several days, Cal Fire-Riverside County said in a statement. The containment percentage Saturday evening was 40%.

The Santa Rosa Plateau Ecological Preserve and Sylvan Meadows remained closed Sunday, “and will be for some time,” the statement said. “All trails are closed due to safety hazards as a result of the Tenaja fire,” the statement said.

The  Santa Rosa Plateau Visitor Center at 39400 Clinton Keith Road was evacuated at the height of the fire.

The fire was first reported Wednesday afternoon, and it threatened the Copper Canyon neighborhood of Murrieta as well as the La Crest community.

It caused minor damage to only two homes, and three non-life-threatening injuries were reported. Evacuations were lifted Friday. The cause remains under investigation. Cal-Fire said 708 firefighters remained at the scene Sunday morning.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.

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