Evacuation orders lifted after firefighters control wind driven fire in Thermal

Updated Sunday at 12:00 a.m.

Cal Fire said Saturday that the fire was turned over to the Bureau of Indian Affairs.

Previous report:

UPDATE AS OF 7 P.M. FRIDAY: The fire is now 19 acres and 20% contained. Firefighters say that the change is because of more accurate mapping of the fire

Evacuation orders have been lifted for an area where a 27-acre fire was burning overnight in Thermal. Cal Fire says one firefighter was injured fighting the fire that broke out in the area of Avenue 62 and Jackson Street a little after 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

Fire crews were first called out to a five acre fire, burning in heavy wind conditions that caused the fire to rapidly spread forcing officials to order an evacuation of nearby residents around 11:30 p.m.

As Riverside County Sheriff's deputies assisted with evacuations, one firefighter was taken to a hospital with minor injuries, according to fire officials. An evacuation center was opened at the gym in Desert Mirage High School, 86150 Avenue 66.

Firefighters worked to contain the fire through the night and by Friday morning, the forward rate of the fire was stopped at 27 acres, fire officials said. Control lines were placed around the flames overnight as crews remained on the scene working on containment in the morning.

All evacuation orders were subsequently reduced to evacuation warnings and the evacuation center was closed shortly before 9 a.m. Firefighters will remain on scene most of Friday to watch for spot fires and to mop up. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.