Hydrant Struck, Water Geysers Near Old Town Temecula, Santiago Bridge

Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department firefighters were en route to assist with the incident.

Mar. 13, 2026 at 9:33pm

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A sheared fire hydrant emitted a geyser of water in the Santiago Road and Old Town Front Street area of Temecula on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred in the back lot of the Southcreek Mall at the intersection of Old Town Front Street and 1st Street, just south of the Santiago Bridge.

Why it matters

Incidents involving damaged fire hydrants can pose risks to public safety and infrastructure, requiring a prompt emergency response. This is the second such incident in Temecula this month, indicating a potential issue with the city's hydrant system that may need to be addressed.

The details

At around 2:30 p.m., water could be seen soaring into the afternoon sky from the back lot of the Southcreek Mall. Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department was dispatched to the scene to assist with the incident. No other details were immediately available, but Patch has reached out to Rancho Water for more information.

  • On Friday, March 13, 2026 at around 2:30 p.m.

The players

Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department

The local fire department that was dispatched to the scene to assist with the incident.

Rancho Water

The local water utility that Patch has reached out to for more information about the incident.

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What’s next

Patch has reached out to Rancho Water regarding this incident and will update the report as more information becomes available.

The takeaway

This incident highlights the importance of maintaining a reliable and well-functioning fire hydrant system in Temecula, as damage to hydrants can pose risks to public safety and infrastructure. The city may need to investigate the cause of this and the previous hydrant strike to ensure similar incidents do not continue to occur.