A brush fire broke out in Southern California on Friday morning and moved fast enough to outpace initial estimates within hours, growing from roughly 5 acres at first report to 3,500 acres by mid-afternoon. The Springs Fire, first reported around 11 a.m. on April 3, 2026, along the 15900 block of Gilman Springs Road east of Moreno Valley, was 5% contained as of 4 p.m. with evacuation orders in effect across a significant stretch of Riverside County.
A second fire, the Crown Fire, broke out in Los Angeles County at 11:23 a.m. the same day and had burned 280 acres by late afternoon. The two Springs Fire represent the first major blazes of the season following a winter marked by heavy rainfall and stretches of intense heat.
What drove the fire and how fast it moved
Santa Ana winds gusting at up to 50 mph pushed the Springs Fire across dry grass and brush, the kind of light, fast-burning vegetation that fire officials refer to as flashy fuels. The Riverside County Fire Department deployed two air tankers, roughly 30 engines, and ground crews to dig containment lines and set backfires.
Alex Izaguirre, a spokesperson for the Riverside County Fire Department, identified wind as the primary obstacle for crews on the ground.
The National Weather Service issued a wind advisory for the valleys of San Bernardino and Riverside County, with conditions expected to persist through Saturday afternoon. Gusts of up to 50 mph were forecast for the region, raising the risk of additional fire spread, downed power lines, and tree damage.
Gilman Springs Road was closed from Alessandro Boulevard to Bridge Street as firefighting operations continued.
Evacuations and road closures
Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for areas on both sides of Gilman Springs Road and for the Lake Perris State Recreation Area. A large region east of Lake Perris fell under the orders as the fire continued to expand. Authorities set up community shelters and resources for displaced residents, and officials urged anyone in the affected zones to leave without delay.
The cause of the Springs Fire remains under investigation. No injuries had been reported as of Friday afternoon.
Smoke spreads across the region
The Riverside County Fire Department issued a drift smoke advisory Friday afternoon, noting that smoke from the Springs Fire was visible and detectable by smell across multiple surrounding cities. Areas affected included Riverside, Jurupa Valley, Menifee, Wildomar, and Lake Elsinore.
Temperatures in Moreno Valley were in the mid-to-upper 70s at the time of the fire, according to the National Weather Service. The combination of warm air, low humidity, and strong winds created conditions that accelerated the fire’s growth during the critical early hours.
A season starting early
The timing of the Springs fires points to a pattern that climate scientists and fire officials have tracked for years. Southern California’s wildfire season has increasingly extended beyond its traditional window, driven by shifting weather patterns that leave vegetation drier for longer stretches of the year.
Firefighting crews were expected to remain on scene through the weekend as wind conditions persisted. Evacuation orders and containment updates were being provided through official county channels and local emergency management agencies.
Residents in affected areas were advised to keep windows and doors closed, avoid outdoor exposure to smoke, prepare emergency supplies, and monitor official updates from Riverside County Fire and Cal Fire.
