TEMECULA, CA — An Easter Sunday brush fire through Temecula Valley Wine Country is thought to be arson-related, officials say.
Cal Fire/Riverside County Investigators have placed one person under arrest on suspicion of igniting the blaze, though the individual’s identity remains under wraps, according to spokesperson Maggie Cline De La Rosa.
The brush fire began just after 2:30 p.m. in the 32700 block of Rancho California Road, according to the department, and began in the canyon area just west of Callaway Vineyard & Winery.
Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire: Temecula Valley Wine Country Serena Blaze
Smoke could also be seen from wineries across the valley, where many locations were in the middle of Easter brunch and activities.
Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire: Temecula Valley Wine Country Serena Blaze (Ashley Ludwig)
When the blaze was first reported, the fire had already consumed 5 to 7 acres and was growing rapidly to 25 acres amid steady westerly winds. The forward rate of spread slowed around 4 p.m., as firefighters battled the brush fire from the air and on the ground.
Charred hillside behind Callaway Winery in Temecula. (Photo: Ashley Ludwig)
Fire danger in the region on Sunday was considered “extreme,” due to temperatures in the mid-80s and dry conditions, including humidity below 10% earlier in the day. Winds out of the southwest blew at up to 10 to 15 miles per hour.
Smoke seen behind Bolero Restaurante in Temecula. (Photo Credit: Ashley Ludwig)
Area wineries expressed their thanks for the rapid response.
“On behalf of Callaway Winery, we want to send out a HUGE THANK YOU to CalFire for acting so quickly in putting out this fire!” they said on the Instagram post. “Words cannot express how grateful we are for the dedication, skills, and commitment to keeping our community safe!”
Callaway was fully closed during the incident and remained closed for the remainder of the day, but promised it would be open Monday at its normal time, the winery posted on its Instagram account.
According to the Callaway Instagram page, only a few grapevines were affected by the fire.
The smoke was visible from across Temecula Valley Wine Country, with several wineries closing for the afternoon due to the blaze.
View of Temecula Valley Wine Country Brush Fire (Callaway Winery)
Firefighters remained on scene for several hours for full containment and mop-up.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
No injuries were reported.
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