Crews continue work in Banning to contain 3,000-acre Summit Fire
The Summit Fire in Banning is 55% contained according to the last update from Riverside County Fire at 8 p.m. Thursday night.
Despite stiff winds blowing through the San GorgonioPass, crews continued to make progress Thursday toward encircling a roughly 3,000-acre blaze near Banning that destroyed a house and left two firefighters withminor injuries.
Morethan 400 firefighters were working the fire lines, aided by four water-droppinghelicopters and an air tanker, according to the Riverside County FireDepartment.
Easterly winds gusting between 30 and 40 mph were making the containmenteffort difficult, officials said.
The blaze broke out near North San Gorgonio Avenue and Summit Driveabout 12:40 p.m. Wednesday, fire department spokeswoman Jody Hagemann said. Itspread quickly through what she described as “medium brush” and burned atleast one structure.
Two firefighters suffered minor injuries, and one home was lost to theflames.
Located at 43425 Mesa St., northwest of town, the house belonged to 53-year-old Joseph Kiener, who told reporters he managed only to save himself andhis dog before the flames struck.
Evacuation orders for the 200-unit Highland Springs Mobile Home Parkwere rescinded late Wednesday. Mias Canyon Road also was reopened, but closuresremained in effect along Wilson Street, between San Gorgonio and Sunsetavenues.
An evacuation center was in operation at the Banning Community ServicesCenter, 789 N. San Gorgonio Ave.
About 425 firefighters from Riverside County, Palm Springs, CathedralCity, other cities and districts in Southern California, the Morongo Band ofMission Indians and the U.S. Forest Service were deployed to fight the blaze,according to Hagemann.
The Riverside County Animal Services Department sent personnel to thefire command post and had an emergency rescue unit on standby, said agencyspokesman John Welsh.
An evacuation center for small animals affected by the fire was openedat San Jacinto Valley Animal Services, 581 S. Grand Ave. and a center for largeanimals at Noble Creek Park, 390 Oak Valley Parkway in Beaumont.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisoryfor the area, warning that air quality could reach unhealthy levels. Peopleshould avoid strenuous outdoor activities, keep windows and doors closed andrun an air conditioner, according to air quality officials.
