Authorities Sunday morning lifted most of the evacuation warnings issued for a wildfire that has scorched 256 acres in Riverside and San Diego counties near the Pala Casino.
The Henderson Fire started shortly after 5:30 p.m. Friday off Henderson Road, north of state Route 76 and east of Interstate 15 in San Diego County, Cal Fire reported. It was 65% contained as of Sunday morning.
Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette said warnings remain in place for four zones, which are found on the Genasys app.
“We have control line all the way around the fire, which is not expected to grow any more, but we are mitigating any hazards and extinguishing hot spots,” Cornette told City News Service.
The fire consumed an unoccupied recreational vehicle parked on the 37300 block of Magee Road in Pala, said Cornette, who added that Red Cross assistance has been offered to the owners.
“The aggressive aerial support from fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft has helped slow the fire activity,” according to Cal Fire. “Firefighter hand crews and bulldozers are actively constructing control lines around the fire’s perimeter to aid in mop-up operations.
“All evacuation orders have been downgraded to warnings, and the zones in Riverside County have returned to normal status.”
The northwest-spreading fire grew to 30 acres by 6:59 p.m. Friday as ground crews and personnel aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters worked to subdue the blaze, the state agency said.
The fire grew to 200 acres by 9:57 p.m. Friday.
In Riverside County, the evacuation warnings issued for the area north of the county line, east of Rainbow Oaks Drive and Pala Road, south of Pechanga Road and Anza Road, and west of the Crosley Truck Trail were lifted as of 3:10 p.m. Saturday.
A care and reception center was established for Riverside County residents impacted by the fire at Temecula Valley High School, 31555 Rancho Vista Road.
Additional details about exact evacuation boundaries are available at go.genasys.com/bf2bvu.