Arrest Made in Easter Sunday Brush Fire That Swept Through Temecula Wine Country

An Easter Sunday that many in Temecula Valley Wine Country spent celebrating turned tense when a fast-moving brush fire broke out behind one of the region’s most beloved wineries — and investigators now say it was no accident.

Cal Fire/Riverside County Investigators have placed one person under arrest on suspicion of intentionally igniting the blaze, though the individual’s identity has not yet been released, according to department spokesperson Maggie Cline De La Rosa.

The fire, dubbed the Serena Fire by crews, was reported around 2:30 p.m. in the 32700 block of Rancho California Road, breaking out in an open field behind Callaway Vineyard & Winery and the Sommers Bend neighborhood. By the time firefighters arrived, the blaze had already consumed 5 to 7 acres and was spreading rapidly in steady westerly winds, quickly growing to 25 acres.

Callaway Winery, situated closest to the fire’s origin, closed its doors for the rest of the day. In an Instagram post, the winery offered a heartfelt thank-you to Cal Fire for the rapid response, saying the fire crews’ dedication and skill kept the community safe.

Read the full report from Patch: Arrest Made in Temecula Wine Country Easter Fire, Wineries Respond