The fire season has been starting with an explosion in California since Saturday, where more than a dozen wildfires were ignited, the largest of which are Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
Officials warn that the fierce events of the past three days are the prelude to what will happen in the coming months as the state usually dries from winter and spring to hot summer and fall. While most of the ongoing fires are in the South, crew members are also held in Northern California, where red flag warnings are in effect at 8 p.m. Tuesday.
According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire, this is the latest information about the current fire burning.
Wolf Fire, Riverside County
On Sunday afternoon, a fast-growing wolf fire broke out, growing rapidly to 2,400 acres, forcing evacuation and road closures near Baning.
Firefighters had established 30% control by 5:45 pm on Monday. Three hundred firefighters, four helicopters and 70 engines continued to work to master the fire, which began on the old Edwild Road and Wolfskier Truck Trail.
On Monday, the evacuation order remains in effect in most bans and Kabason areas south of Interstate 10. Here is a community map affected by the command. An evacuation shelter for affected families was established at Hemet High School, 41701 E. Stetson Ave., and an animal evacuation site is set up at 581 S. Grand Ave in San Jacinto.
Hebin County Juniper Fire
A juniper fire ignited in an unincorporated mountainous area of Perris around 11:30 a.m. Monday, prompting evacuation orders and warnings from nearby Camelot Hill neighborhoods and good-hopeers.
On Monday night, the evacuation order applied to 633 people and 261 buildings, with evacuation warnings affecting another 2,507 people and 1,579 buildings, according to a CAL fire spokesman.
Firefighters have stopped moving forward and reached 30% of the 688 acres of fire at 5:45 pm on Monday. Twenty-four engines, two helicopters and a total of 183 firefighters continued to fight the fires on the steep hillside territory. Staff will be kept on site overnight and Tuesday to strengthen containment.
A “care and reception center” for affected families was established at Citrus Hill High School, 18150 Wood Road, Perris. A map of the evacuation area can be found here.
San Bernardino County Lake Fire
Firefighters reached 40% containment on the 483-acre lake fire on Monday night, burning near Lake Silverwood. The fire ignited around 4 p.m. Saturday at about 173 State Expressway and the Cedar Springs Dam Trail.
In hillside areas north of Silverwood Lake and south of Lugo community, evacuation warnings remain in effect, while Silverwood Lake State Entertainment District is out of public presence. Here is a map of the affected areas.
The crew stopped the forward spread of the fire on Monday morning and have been working to strengthen the control line in areas where the fire is still active.
Sims Fire in Larsen County
The crew reached 25% containment on Monday night at the 223-acre Sims fire in Larson County. The fire ignited along McCaffe Road near the California-Nevada border around 1:30 p.m. Monday. Sixty personnel and a helicopter were assigned to the fire.
Mindi Fire, Hebin County
Firefighters had strong handles on the 103-acre Mindy Fire in a remote area of Riverside County on Monday, prompting the lifting of the regional evacuation order. The fire ignited Decoursey Road and Minday Lane in the north of Forrest Gumpa shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday. By Monday night, the fires accounted for 80%.
Mandalay County Mandalay Fire
Firefighters reached 100% control on Monday on the 83-acre Mandalay fire. A fire was lit shortly after 3:30 p.m. Sunday in the brush area west of Riverside Municipal Airport.
Smiley, San Bernardino County
Firefighters reached 100% control on Monday on the 83-acre smile fire. The fire began Saturday at the intersection of Santomot Canyon Road and Smiley Face Road south of Redlands.
Fire is less than 30 acres
The 26-acre Kennyon fire was lit Sunday in Shasta County; a 26-acre quarry fire was lit Monday in San Joaquin County; and a 24-acre bass fire was ignited Monday. The Marysville fire was lit on Sunday in Yuba County; the 20-acre Llano fire was lit on Saturday in San Luis Obispo County and has been fully included; and the 19-acre cable fire was lit on Sunday in San Bernardino County.
