Evacuation orders lifted, fire crews still battle Kellogg Fire in North Palm Springs
UPDATE 5:00 p.m.
Containment of the Kellog Fire has increased to 75% this afternoon. The fire remains 26 acres.
The next update will be released on Wednesday morning.
Update 8:00 a.m.
The fire remains 26 acres and is now 50% contained. Fire crews remain on scene as they work to fully contain the fire.
Firefighters worked through the night on a mulch fire burning north of Palm Springs.
All evacuation orders are lifted for the people living in the 15 homes north of El Dorado road to Garnet road.
As of the last update at 9 p.m. Sunday night from CAL Fire, the Kellogg Fire has burned 26 acres and is zero percent contained.
The fire first broke out in a junkyard around 8:30 a.m. Sunday morning.
Read more: Mulch fire burning in North Palm Springs spreads to nearby salvage yard
We spoke with CAL Fire captain Fernando Herrera who said the biggest issue they face is the wind. At one point Sunday winds reached up to 60 miles per hour according to CAL Fire.
“So all this, it doesn't matter the temperature, how cool it is. We have dry fuel here that ignites very rapidly and then with the wind it fans it and makes it more intense,” Herrera said.
Mulch along with other debris has burned with this fire. Herrera said, “The fire migrated into the junkyard burning several of the vehicles.” John Clingingsmith, captain with Cal Fire and the Riverside County Fire Department added, “The debris piles themselves, with mixed materials not knowing what they are, it could be household waste all the way up to hazardous waste.”
Fire officials tell News Channel 3 that the cause of the fire remains under investigation. We spoke to the property owners husband, Ernesto Trevino, who believed it was arson and sparked from another fire that happened Halloween night. Trevino said, “About an acre burnt on Halloween night and the firemen were able to put it out with just a few trucks and about 20 men.” Herrera said, “It’s just like any other fire we get on the southern end of the Coachella Valley. They can erupt again, they can reignite, they can rekindle.”
This fire is on private property. Trevino said the biggest issue they have is people driving through that land to get to places like Whitewater and using the way as an illegal dumping ground. This is an issue he said they have dealt with for a while.
The smoke making it hard for the firefighters are surrounding neighbors. Herrera recommended for neighbors to stay indoors until the smoke clears.
Herrera said this fire still has a lot that needs to be done and they are taking it day by day.
Stay with News Channel 3 on-air and online for more updates.
