A brush fire that has scorched 648 acres north of Homeland, destroying some outbuildings and other structures, was 74% contained Saturday.
The fire was reported at 12:20 p.m. Tuesday on a hillside in the area of Verona and Juniper Springs Roads, north of Highway 74, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. It was driven by strong winds and prompted evacuation warnings.
As of Saturday morning, only one evacuation warning remained active in the areas within the fire perimeter. An evacuation shelter remained open at West Valley High School in Hemet, and an animal evacuation center at San Jacinto Animal Shelter.
Suppression efforts remained ongoing Saturday as crews continue to construct, strengthen and secure control lines. The fire is expected to remain within the current perimeter as established control lines hold.
Some 518 personnel, 37 engines, 27 hand crews and 14 water tenders were assigned to the fire including engine and hand crews from the Riverside County, Hemet and Soboba Tribal Fire Departments.
One firefighter suffered unspecified minor injuries and was taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar for treatment.
Firefighters established a defensive perimeter Tuesday and prevented the fire from impacting occupied homes, but outbuildings and storage facilities in the area were consumed by the fire, according to reports from the scene. The exact number couldn’t be confirmed.
After a series of drops by Cal Fire air tankers and water-dropping helicopters, the fire’s forward rate of spread was halted at 3:40 p.m., and only one chopper remained overhead late Tuesday afternoon, making targeted drops.
However, Cal Fire announced later Tuesday that the fire jumped control lines and was burning “at a critical rate of spread.” The agency said there was no diversion order for the four air tankers on scene.
Damage inspection teams were on scene Thursday conducting ongoing assessments of impacted areas, the department announced.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.