Firefighters gear up for day two of fire containment in south Palm Springs

Firefighters are gearing up for another long day of fire containment in south Palm Springs. According to Palm Springs Fire Captain Nathan Gunkel, two firefighters have already been taken to the hospital to be treated for heat exhaustion.

“Very hot temperatures expected today it’s going to be slow moving. Very steep terrain, very rocky, very difficult access up into there,” said Gunkel. 

As of Wednesday morning, the Smoketree fire had burned 139 acres and is estimated to be at 20% containment.

Gunkel explained they had a helicopter go around this morning and get a more exact and updated acreage on the fire. He says they have 100 firefighters still working to contain the perimeter of the fire that ignited Tuesday afternoon. 

“Today is going to be all boots on the ground. The fire was attacked mainly yesterday by the air, today we have to get up there and cut a line around this fire,” said Gunkel. 

Gunkel says there are no mandatory evacuations and no structures threatened right now. He estimates crews will be working on containment for at least another 24 hours. 

As of Tuesday night, the circumstances around the fire are being called “suspicious.” Investigators are looking into possible leads, there is no new information on a possible suspect at this time. 

With fire season starting in the desert, the fire department urges everyone to take extra precautions to prevent fires. “We strongly recommend they don’t use any type of heat sources out here. Any type of flames any type of warming fire or cooking fire...stuff goes wrong,” said Gunkel. “Please keep using your common sense.”