Fire Forces Evacuation Sunday of Pala Raceway Southeast of Temecula

Spectators and riders were evacuated Sunday from Pala Raceway southeast of Temecula when a brush fire broke out, according to reports on social media.

Dubbed the Raceway fire, CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire Department responded to the blaze Sunday afternoon that threatened brush adjacent to the dirt biking track off Highway 76 and Magee Road, according to information posted on CAL FIRE’s Facebook page.

Charred area was contained to 12 acres but not before everyone was evacuated from the facility for their safety, Pala Raceway wrote on its Facebook page, which shows photos of the flames being attacked from the air.

Temecula Patch reader Sherri Williams was at the track when the fire broke out.

“The sheriff and fire personnel evacuated the racetrack. All riders/fans left to ‘get out of the way’ for the many fire trucks,” Williams wrote in a message to Patch.

An official with CAL FIRE/San Diego County Fire could not immediately be reached Monday for more specifics on the fire, such as what may have sparked it.

The facility thanked firefighters and stated it will issue rain checks and race credits for the interruption to Sunday’s schedule.

“We want to thank Pala Fire and CAL Fire for getting this blaze under control. It was prudent to evacuate for general safety. 20' flames a few hundred feet away is not something to take lightly. We will make up the race, and race credits will be issued,” Pala Raceway wrote.