Fire crews continue mop-up operations after Tamarisk tree fire

Firefighters were providing additional mop-up early Friday morning after Thursday’s fire in Tamarisk trees along Interstate 10 in Palm Desert.

CalFire Captain Fernando Herrera said Friday morning that crews would be patrolling the area for hot spots that might resurface. Herrera said duff accumulation in the tree burn area, and large tree trunks, will smolder and require additional mop up. Herrera said this poses no threat or hazard.

The fire broke out Thursday morning in Palm Desert and Bermuda Dunes in a thicket of tamarisk trees, but was contained in about an hour and a half Thursday morning.

The fire was reported shortly before 10 a.m. near the intersection of Country Club and Starlight Lane, just east of Washington Street.

Riverside County Sheriff’s deputies were evacuating homes in the area. According to Cal Fire, the evacuations were in the area of Fresco Lane and Brisa Drive.

61 firefighters and nine fire engines responded to the blaze. The fire was burning in an area of about 1/4 acre of heavy brush and tamarisk trees.

The fire appears to be centered in several spots along a 100 or so yard stretch along the railroad tracks next to Interstate 10.

A News Channel 3 news team was on scene.