3 min readUpdated: Apr 4, 2026 08:27 AM IST
Two wildfires erupted in Southern California, United States, on Friday and spread rapidly owing to strong winds. This marked the first major incident of the season amid an ongoing spring heatwave, reported The Guardian.
The National Weather Service of the US had issued a wind advisory for parts of the region until midday, cautioning that gusts could reach 50 mph.
Spokesperson for California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) in Riverside County Alex Izaguirre said the winds were carrying smoke across a wide area, triggering a surge of calls from residents in nearby cities who reported seeing and smelling it.
pic.twitter.com/NshJe1gANk This kind of fire activity seen on the active #SpringsFire is typically reserved for late May/June and later. To have a fire of this scale so early in the year is a very troublesome sign of what the rest of the season may have in store.
— California Wildfire Tracking (@CaliFireTracker) April 3, 2026
Riverside County fire spreads across 3,500 acres
The larger of the two, the Springs Fire in Riverside County, has scorched 4,176 acres so far, as per the data available on Cal Fire’s website. So far, only 10% of the wildfire has been contained.
Authorities issued multiple evacuation orders as flames tore through areas north and east of Lake Perris, including parts of a state recreation area.
Live look at the #SpringsFire approaching school structures in Moreno Valley on Lasselle St.
Volunteer reporter @InfernoWatch24 is currently on scene. pic.twitter.com/Nhm0pohy5Y
— California Wildfire Tracking (@CaliFireTracker) April 3, 2026
As the blaze pushed toward Moreno Valley, a city with a population of about 200,000, firefighters were deployed to safeguard homes and buildings in its path. The wildfires, which began around 11 am, is still under investigation.
Crews battling the Springs Fire include two helicopters, 36 fire engines and around 260 personnel divided into seven crews. By Friday evening, containment stood at 5%.
The smaller Crown Fire in Los Angeles was spread across 345 acres and 25% of it has been contained. Its progress had been stopped and all evacuation orders had been lifted in the zone till the last reports came in.
California wildfires in 2025
A total of 8,036 wildfires were reported in California in 2025. These wildfires destroyed 2,05,817 acres and claimed 31 lives, according to the statistics available with Cal Fire. As per National Interagency Coordination Center Wildland Fire Summary and Statistics Annual Report Southern California recorded the highest number of structures destroyed in wildfires: 16,324.
In 2026, 504 wildfires have been reported so far.
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