Verona Fire Explodes Overnight Near Hemet

At approximately 1:00 a.m. on May 20, 2026, firefighters continued battling the fast-moving Verona Fire burning near Highway 74, Stevenson Road, and Beverly in the Homestead and Juniper Springs areas.

Originally believed to have stopped forward progress around 200 acres, the fire later experienced a major slop-over on the eastern side, aligned with strong winds, and rapidly expanded to well over 500 acres overnight.

Shifting winds continued to create dangerous conditions for firefighters as crews worked through the night laying thousands of feet of hose line and defending threatened neighborhoods.

Authorities said firefighters were close to securing the south side of the fire before running out of hose, allowing flames to quickly intensify and push toward the Hemet Golf Club gated community.

Crews made an aggressive stand and were able to successfully protect homes in the neighborhood as the fire changed direction again and continued pushing southwest toward Juniper Springs Road and Beverly.

Additional resources flooded the area overnight for structure protection while Cal Fire crews conducted firing operations north of Highway 74 to help stop the fire’s spread west of Juniper Springs Road and north of Valley Vista.

The fire remains under investigation.

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