Wildfire in Southern California Forces Evacuations

Fire officials in Southern California say a wildfire fueled by heat and wind has forced the evacuations of two neighborhoods, with more being urged to flee.

Riverside fire Battalion Chief Mitch Wesche tells the Press-Enterprise that 12 adults and five dogs were under mandatory evacuation orders. Residents of about 100 other homes have been urged to evacuate.

The 100-acre fire at the bottom of the Santa Ana River in Riverside has damaged one outbuilding. Wesche says winds are picking up embers and igniting spot fires.

The fire was about 40 percent contained at press time.

Wesche says one firefighter complained of chest pains and was taken to a hospital for evaluation, and a second suffered heat exhaustion and was treated at the scene.

The cause of the blaze is under investigation