A vegetation fire fled to the mountains of Santa Rosa in the county of Riverside on Monday afternoon, burning 1,200 acres by nightfall and causing evacuation orders in neighboring rural communities.
The fire, nicknamed the Rosa fire, was reported around 12:30 p.m. on motorway 74 east of the Santa Rosa Truck Trail in the mountains between Palm Desert and Anza, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Fire fighting staff was deployed on the incident, which burned at a moderate pace of propagation and was 0% content on Monday evening.
Evacuation orders were issued for households in and near the communities of Ribbonwood, Pinyon Pines and the Alpine village, while evacuation warnings have been issued to Pinyon Crest. A map of affected areas can be seen here.
Care and reception centers have been created at the Anza community center and the Palm Desert Community Center, while the animal evacuation centers were opened at the San Jacinto Animal Shelter and Coachella Valley Campus.
According to Cal Fire, forty-nine engines, five dozen, four water offers and two helicopters were assigned to the fight against fire.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has published an opinion of air quality for the Coachella valley and certain parts of the Santa Clarita valley due to the smoke of the Rosa fire as well as the Gifford fire of 72,460 acres in the National Forest of Los Padres and the 348 acres gold fire in the national forest of San Bernardino. Residents are advised to avoid or limit external activity.