Two brush fires that erupted Wednesday on the south edge of Cabazon scorched nearly 100 acres before crews got the entire conflagration partially contained.
The non-injury blazes were reported about 11:45 a.m. in the area of Almond Street and Esperanza Avenue, nearly a mile south of Interstate 10, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
Multiple engine and hand crews from the county and U.S. Forest Service were sent to the location and encountered flames moving through medium brush at a moderate rate.
The parallel brushers were estimated to be 15 and 80 acres, respectively, and the latter was 75% contained as of 4:30 p.m. The smaller fire was about 10% contained, according to the fire department.
An evacuation order remained in effect as of 5:30 p.m., covering the area south of Esther Avenue, north of Hattie Avenue, west of Lime Street and east of Peach Street. An evacuation warning was in effect for the area south of Bonita, north of Esther, west of Peach and east of Broadway Street.
A care and reception center was available at Nicolet Middle School, 101 E. Nicolet St., Banning.
Four Cal Fire air tankers and two water-dropping helicopters made runs on the brushers for most of the afternoon as they pushed east through the San Gorgonio Pass.
There were no reports of damage.
Officials did not immediately know what caused the fires.