WINCHESTER – (INT) – The year’s first Inland Empire wildfire requiring evacuations was contained Friday in a rural area of Riverside County.

Investigators said Friday is was started by some metal grinding equipment, apparently accidentally.

The wind-blown fire broke out Thursday afternoon along Rawson Road at Winchester, southwest of Hemet.

Two hours later, Calfire reported that one unoccupied home had been destroyed and six others were ordered evacuated along Hidden Falls Road and Vista Road.

During the first 3-hours, flames had swept across 800 acres of light brush. Later, the blackened area was increased to 1,261 acres. The forward progress of the fire has been stopped and all evacuations were lifted.

A column of smoke was visible across much of Southwest Riverside County.

Story Date: May 21, 2018