Evacuations lifted as firefighters make progress in stopping Banning blaze
Ground crews worked early today to extend containmentlines around a wildfire that scorched nearly 3,000 acres in Banning, hoping tolimit the fire’s spread before fierce winds pick up again and the temperaturerises.
The blaze broke out near North San Gorgonio Avenue and Summit Driveabout 12:40 p.m. Wednesday, Jody Hagemann of the Riverside County FireDepartment said. It spread quickly through what Hagemann called medium brushand burned at least one structure.
At last count, the blaze was reported to have charred 2,956 acres and tobe 40 percent contained, Battalion Chief Julie Hutchinson of the RiversideCounty Fire Department said today. Hutchinson said aircraft would rejoin thefirefighting effort this morning.
“Our ground crews worked hard overnight and we believe thosecontainment figures are going to be higher, but we won’t know the new numbersuntil we can get crews into relieve the people who are on the fire-lines rightnow,” Battalion Chief Julie Hutchinson of the Riverside County Fire Departmenttold City News Service before dawn.
“We will have our aircraft back up flying and dropping water on thefire as of 7 a.m.,” said Hutchinson.
As of this morning, two firefighters had suffered minor injuries, andthere’s been one home lost to the flames. Located at 43425 Mesa St., northwestof town, the house belonged to 53-year-old Joseph Kiener who told reporters hemanaged only to save himself and his dog before the flames struck.
“It’s a total loss,” Kiener told the Press-Enterprise. “It reallyhasn’t hit me yet. But it hurts me to lose the house.”
Evacuation orders for the 200-unit Highland Springs Mobile Home Parkwere rescinded late Wednesday. Mias Canyon Road was also reopened, but BluffRoad remained closed.
An evacuation center was opened 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 fighting the blaze,along with six tanker aircraft, according to Hagemann.
The Riverside County Animal Services Department sent personnel to thefire command post and had an emergency rescue unit on standby, the department’sJohn Welsh said.
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 because ofthe smoke. People should avoid strenuous outdoor activities, keep windows anddoors closed and run an air conditioner, according to air quality officials.
Much of Southern California is under red flag warnings for fire danger due to winds, low humidity and heat.
The Coachella Valley’s air quality index was 51 as of Thursday morning, considered moderate.
