A refuse fire that began when several mulch mounds ignited in North Palm Springs grew to 26 acres and was not surrounded by fire lines but fire officials lifted evacuation orders and firefighters from several departments remained on the scene Monday.
The fire was reported at 8:35 a.m. Sunday in a salvage yard at Kellogg and Pipeline roads, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
Residents living north of El Dorado Road to Garnet Road were ordered to evacuate during the day due to the fire but those orders were lifted by 9 p.m., said Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman Jody Hagemann.
“One hundred and twenty-five firefighters are at the scene battling this fire that’s been fanned by winds of 40 to 60 miles per hour,” Capt. Fernando Herrera said. Those winds had dropped to 15 mph with 35 mph gusts by 9 p.m.
The fire involved several large mulch piles, grasses and a vehicle storage area, Hagemann said.
In addition to firefighters from the county and the Bureau of Land Management, crews from the Morongo, Idyllwild and Palm Springs, Soboba, Calimesa, Hemet, Riverside City and March Air Reserve Base fire departments also responded.
Two firefighters were evaluated for non-life-threatening injuries, she said.