Temecula Winery's Kitchen, Tasting Room Destroyed in Explosion

A fire erupted Friday at a Temecula Valley winery, damaging part of the structure when flames ignited a propane tank, triggering an explosion.

The non-injury blaze was reported around 8:30 a.m. inside Mount Palomar Winery at 33820 Rancho California Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

Three engine crews and a truck company, numbering around 14 firefighters, arrived within minutes of the 911 call and were attempting to contain the flames when an explosion ripped through the kitchen and tasting room of the winery, a fire department spokeswoman said.

She said the eruption occurred when the fire reached a propane container at the location, adding that the kitchen and tasting room were "destroyed."

The fire was extinguished a short time later.

Calls to the winery went unanswered, though fire officials confirmed that business operations had resumed.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

– City News Service.