Dozens of firefighters are battling a fast-moving brush fire near Hemet in Riverside County. This broadcast aired on NBC4 at 3 p.m. on Aug. 14, 2026.
A brush fire led to evacuation warnings and orders Friday afternoon on the edge of San Bernardino National Forest.
The Taffle Fire was reported at 12:30 p.m. near Taffle Ranch and Red Mountain roads, southeast of Hemet. About 55 acres of vegetation burned by 5:45 p.m. with containment at 25 percent.
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WATCH HEREWater-dropping air tankers and a helicopter responded to the fire. Firefighters were working to contain flames south of Red Mountain Road and east of Oak Drive in the sparsely populated area.
Evacuation orders and warnings, meaning residents should be prepared to evacuate, were issued in the area. Around 8 p.m., those warnings were canceled and the orders were downgraded to warnings, according to Cal Fire.
Hemet High School, located at 41701 Stetson Avenue, was being used as a care and reception center.
Details about how the fire started were not immediately available.
