Beaumont fire containment expected by evening

A 2,200-acre wildfire southeast of Beaumont is not expected to be contained until tomorrow morning, a county fire department spokeswoman said today.

The blaze was 70 percent contained Sunday night and should be fully surrounded by 6 a.m. Tuesday. Full control is expected by 6 p.m. Tuesday, said Riverside County Fire Department spokeswoman Jody Hagemann.

A force of 445 firefighters was battling the fire, which was burning on steep, rugged terrain and posing no imminent danger to structures or residents.

Five helicopters and five air tankers were also sent, Hagemann said.

The blaze was reported at 1:20 p.m. Saturday at Potrero Road and th Wolfskill Extension Truck Trail. It had scorched about 30 acres by the time it was noticed, having been pushed in a westerly direction by winds blowing at between 15 and 20 miles per hour amid low humidity and temperatures in the mid-80s, Hagemann said