A wind-driven brush fire that broke out north of Homeland and scorched 648 acres, destroyed outbuildings and other structures was 45% contained Friday.
The Verona Fire was 38% contained according to the first report issued Thursday by the Riverside County Fire Department.
Minimal fire behavior was observed throughout Thursday, according to the department.
Suppression efforts remain ongoing as crews continue to construct, strengthen, and secure control lines. Crews will conduct mop-up and patrol operations to reinforce and secure established containment lines. The fire is expected to remain within the current perimeter as established control lines hold.
Damage inspection teams were on scene Thursday conducting ongoing assessments of impacted areas, the department announced
There were 518 personnel, 37 engines, 27 hand crews and 14 water tenders assigned to the fire, fire officials said.
The fire was reported at 12:20 p.m. Tuesday on a hillside in the area of Juniper Springs and Verona roads, north of Highway 74, according to the department.
Multiple engine and hand crews from the Riverside County and Hemet fire departments and Soboba Tribal Fire Department were sent to the location and encountered flames moving at a rapid rate through medium vegetation, with three to four homes in the direct path of the fire.
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.
Mandatory evacuations were implemented for properties scattered south and east of Juniper Springs Road. An evacuation warning was declared for the Panorama Cove Mobile Home Park at 32600 Highway 74.
One firefighter suffered unspecified minor injuries and was reportedly taken to Inland Valley Medical Center in Wildomar for treatment.
An evacuation shelter was established at West Valley High School in Hemet and an animal evacuation center at San Jacinto Animal Shelter in San Jacinto.
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. Only one chopper remained overhead late Tuesday afternoon, making targeted drops, and officials said evacuation orders were expected to be lifted by 6 p.m., but remained in place as of 2 a.m. Wednesday morning.
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.
Sheriff’s deputies closed a segment of Juniper Flats for public safety. Highway traffic was not affected.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
The Verona Fire was one of two large wildfires burning in Riverside County Friday morning. The Bain Fire erupted Tuesday morning in the Santa Ana River bottom in Jurupa Valley and charred 1,497 acres. It was 60% contained as of Friday morning.