The Riverside County Sheriff's Department will conduct a DUI checkpoint in Temecula on Friday, August 29, operating from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. at a location within city limits.

 

Authorities choose checkpoint sites based on areas with high rates of impaired driving incidents.

 

The main goal is to enhance public safety by identifying and removing drivers under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

 

Even prescription and over-the-counter medications can impair driving, and driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal.

 

Those caught face penalties averaging $13,500 and license suspension.

 

Funding comes from the California Office of Traffic Safety and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

 

With new residential projects like Altair and Marlow expanding Temecula, road safety remains essential.

 

Residents are urged to plan for a sober ride to keep Temecula’s roads safe for everyone.

A brush fire broke out on September 10, 2025, in the De Luz area just west of Temecula, leading to a rapid emergency response.

 

Dubbed the “Tornado Fire,” the blaze began near Via Tornado and Via Santa Rosa around 11:50 a.m., generating a large smoke column visible from I-15 and Old Town Temecula.

 

Multiple Cal Fire crews arrived quickly as flames advanced moderately through thick brush, prompting evacuation warnings for zones RVC-2296 and TMC-2249.

 

Old Town Temecula also received a precautionary evacuation alert due to the fire’s proximity.

 

A dynamic aerial response included five air tankers and several helicopters, which stopped the fire’s spread by 1:15 p.m., limiting it to just 12 acres burned.

 

Containment reached 50% by 4 p.m., with no injuries or significant property losses reported.

 

The Tornado Fire’s cause remains under investigation, highlighting the value of swift local emergency actions.