Officials issued an evacuation warning for several Riverside County communities hours after flames erupted on Thursday afternoon about 23 miles east of another fire in the Idyllwild area.
The new blaze, dubbed the Ribbon Fire, has so far scorched about 200 acres in the area of Highway 74 and Ribbonwood Drive near the Santa Rosa Reservation, according to Cal Fire Riverside. The flames were 5 percent contained.
The fire was first reported before 1 p.m. at 40 acres, and within half an hour grew to 100 acres. Officials later reported that size had doubled around 7:30 p.m.
At 5 p.m., county officials issued an evacuation warning for residents of Alpine Village, Pinyon Crest, Pinyon Pines and the Pinyon Flatts campground. They also specified a list of streets affected by the fire.
Those who wish to voluntary evacuate can go to the care and reception center at Palm Desert High School, located at 74910 Aztec Road in Palm Desert.
The warnings would be reevaluated Friday at 5 p.m., officials said.
Just a couple of hours earlier, Cal Fire Capt. Scott Visyak said that the community of Pinyon was not threatened as of yet.
He said responders diverted some resources to the Ribbon Fire from the Cranston Fire, which earlier in the day prompted Gov. Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency.
That blaze destroyed at least five homes and led to the evacuation of around 3,200 people, officials said. As of Thursday evening, it had burned 7,500 acres and was 5 percent contained. Officials previously said containment was 3 percent before changing that figure.
Authorities believed an arsonist might have ignited the Cranston Fire.