Evacuation orders in place as crews make progress on Riverside County blaze
Two wildfires that broke out within a mile of each other in Riverside County quickly merged and spread to more than 1,000 acres by early Thursday morning.
Originally dubbed separately as the Dale Fire and the Bradford Fire, the Riverside County Fire Department told KTLA that the flames intertwined in the brush of Aguanga, located in Southern California’s Inland Empire.
Now referred to only as the Dale Fire, crews first reported the flames at 12:34 p.m. near Lugo Road and Highway 371. The vegetation was burning at a moderate rate of speed, and crews called for additional resources to help slow the spread.
As of 6:30 a.m., the fire was mapped at 1,072 acres and was 25% contained.
The California Highway Patrol announced at 6:30 a.m. Thursday that it has reopened Highway 371 in both directions.
Although crews were “making good progress on the fire’s perimeter,” according to the fire department, an array of evacuations remained for the following areas:
- North of Tule Peak Road
- West of Eagle Nest Court
- South of Highway 371
- East of Bradford Hills Road
Fire officials issued evacuation orders for the following zones: RVC-TULE1, RVC-TULE2, RVC-TULE4, RVC-TULE6, RVC-TULE7, RVC-TULE8, RVC-2327, RVC-LAKERIVERSIDEESTATES4, RVC-TABLEMT4, RVC-TABLEMT5 and CBI-CAHUILLA-1.
Evacuation warnings have been issued for the following zones: RVC-TULE3, RVC-TULE5, RVC-2369, RVC-2280-B, RVC-TABLEMT3 and RVC-TABLEMT6.
A map of evacuations is seen for the Dale Fire on July 16, 2025. (CAL FIRE)
Sky5’s view of the Dale Fire in Riverside County, California on July 16, 2025. (KTLA)
A view of the Dale Fire in Riverside County, California on July 16, 2025. (ALERTCalifornia | UCSD)
Sky5’s view of the Dale Fire in Riverside County, California on July 16, 2025. (KTLA)
Sky5’s view of the Dale Fire in Riverside County, California on July 16, 2025. (KTLA)
Sky5’s view of the Dale Fire in Riverside County, California on July 16, 2025. (KTLA)
Click here for an interactive map of the evacuation zones. Cal Fire said an evacuation shelter has been established at the Anza Community Center, located at 56630 Highway 371, Anza.
An animal shelter was established at the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, located at 581 S. Grand Avenue, San Jacinto, CA 92582.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
This is a developing story. Stay with KTLA for updates.
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