Evacuations were ordered Wednesday for homes in Rainbow that were threatened by a brush fire. The fire erupted for unknown reasons just before 10:30 a.m. in a remote area near Rainbow Crest Road, according to Cal Fire. It quickly burned through dozens of acres as crews struggled to tackle the bl aze in tough terrain. Cal Fire told NBC 7 about 10 homes were threatened and ordered evacuations. An evacuation warning was also issued. Both have since been lifted. Fire crews surrounded the homes for protection, Cal Fire Captain Mike Cornette said, and were tackling the blaze from the ground and the air. The terrain in the area was steep and rocky, which made the firefight difficult. Just after noon, firefighters had a steady hold on the fire at about 35 acres, and some fire resources were released. An evacuation point was established at Fallbrook Seventh-day Adventist Church on 1200 Old Hwy 395 in Fallbrook. Cal Fire shared a photo of firefighting efforts at the Rainbow Fire on July 22, 2026. (Cal Fire) ...read more read less