UPDATE: VAN BUREN FIRE COMPLETELY CONTAINED
UPDATE: Riverside County Fire reports the fire has been fully contained to 57 acres — down from previous estimates due to more accurate mapping. California Highway Patrol expects Van Buren Street and Avenue 62 to be open Sunday morning.
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A brush fire sparked in Thermal Friday afternoon and has grown to 80-85 acres, according to Cal Fire. Officials are calling it the Van Buren Fire.
Cal Fire said they had the blaze 20% contained as of 5:50 p.m.
The fire is located near Avenue 62 and Van Buren Street, which is southwest of the Thermal Airport. The flames are spreading quickly due to windy conditions.
No structures are threatened at this time, according to fire officials, but three power poles are down, affecting 18-64 customers. But since this is a rural area, officials said a customer could equate to a water pump or some other type of agricultural equipment.
A total of 92 firefighters are attacking the flames and a bulldozer is helping to contain the fire.
Avenue 62 is closed between Harrison Street and Jackson Street. Van Buren Street has also been closed from Avenue 66 to Avenue 62, according to Cal Fire.
News Channel 3 and CBS Local 2 are on scene of the Van Buren Fire, we’ll continue to deliver more details as they become available.
Wind causes Thermal brush fire to grow rapidly