Evacuation orders and warnings were lifted Saturday evening after a brush fire rapidly grew to more than 4,100 acres in Moreno Valley a day earlier.

The Springs Fire started Friday on Gilman Springs Road amid windy conditions, which included a Wind Advisory issued by the National Weather Service that was extended to 3 p.m. Saturday.

It triggered evacuation orders in several neighborhoods in the region, according to Cal Fire. As of 6:30 p.m. Saturday, those orders were lifted, and the brush fire was 95% contained.

Two air tanks were flying over the fire on Friday while 23 engines and 105 firefighters were deployed. Two hand crews were also on site.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, Cal Fire said.

Other fire departments in the region, including Hemet, Riverside city and Pechanga, were working together on the fire suppression missions.

No injures were reported.

A map of the Springs Fire in Moreno Valley via Cal Fire.

Springs Fire closures

Because the fire was affecting air quality in the area, Moreno Valley College closed its campus Friday, directing all students, faculty and employees to immediately leave.

Sent Out Church in Moreno Valley was ordered to evacuate to comply with the local emergency order ahead of Easter. On social media, the church said it was canceling its Friday night service due to the fire.

“We have made the difficult decision to cancel The Jesus Celebrating scheduled for April 3, 2026, from 6p to 9pm,” the church announced.

Lake Perris State Recreation Area, located about 9 miles southeast of Moreno Valley, was also placed under a mandatory evacuation.

Just after 2:20 p.m. Friday, the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department issued a Drift Smoke Advisory for the drift smoke seen and smelt throughout Riverside County communities like Riverside, Jurupa Valley, Menifee, Wildomar, and Lake Elsinore.

The fire has scorched more than 4,000 acres, but it’s now 10% contained. NBCLA’s live team coverage aired during the NBC4 News at 7 p.m. on Friday, April 3, 2026.

At 2:41 p.m., California High Patrol’s Riverside office posted an update on X saying that the Springs Fire was causing traffic delays on I-215 and SR-60 due to drivers being distracted by the smoke.

Through March, about 500 wildland fires were reported in California that burned a total of 2,000 acres. At this time last year, 600 fires had burned 59,170 acres, according to Cal Fire.

The state’s five-year average is 734 fires and 13,700 acres through March.