Firefighters have reached 55% containment of an 1,100-acre brush fire near Highway 371 in Aguanga, authorities said Saturday.
“The crews today will hit any flare ups, and continue working in heavy vegetation buildup areas of the fire line,” the Riverside County Fire Department reported.
The non-injury blaze broke out at 12:35 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Riverdale Drive and the highway. It was one of two brush fires that started about the same time. The second erupted about three-quarters of a mile south at Bradford Road and Gelding Way.
The latter fire was contained within two hours after consuming a few acres. However, the main blaze burned at an accelerated rate to the northeast.
As of Saturday afternoon, the area north and south of Tribal Road, east of Cahuilla Road and west of Homestead Road remained under an evacuation order. An evacuation warning remained effective for the area north of Cody Street, south of Wellman Road, east of Iroquois Court/ Cahuilla Road and west of Cooper Cienga Truck Trail. All other evacuation warnings were lifted, according to Cal Fire.
On Thursday afternoon, two lightning strike fires were ignited as cells swept through the foothills around Anza, roughly 10 miles east of the big blaze. Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter quickly stopped the forward rates on both brushers, enabling crews to dig containment lines before nightfall. The combined fires scorched just under four acres, officials said.
On Wednesday afternoon, seven Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters initiated runs on the wildfire as it progressed in the direction of Cahuilla Creek Motocross and the Cahuilla Casino Hotel, both south of the 371. They were briefly evacuated but not damaged.
A care and reception center was established at the Anza Community Center, 56630 Highway 371. The Department of Animal Services was accepting evacuated pets at the agency’s San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, 581 S. Grand Ave.
Both sides of the 371 were shut down for public safety Wednesday between the casino turnoff at Homestead Road to the east and Barbara Trail to the west, spanning seven miles. On Thursday morning, all closures had been lifted.
The main fire destroyed at least one structure, according to Cal Fire. Some 576 personnel were devoted to the effort as of Saturday, including 45 engines, 17 water tenders, six dozers and three helicopters.
The source of the fires that broke out Wednesday was under investigation. The area has been ground zero for a cluster of minor and major wildfires going back three years.