SoCal Fires Latest: 5th Brush Fire Breaks Out, 2 Injured

RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CA — Firefighters on Sunday battled triple-digit temperatures and four wildfires that ravaged thousands of acres across Riverside County.

Three of the fires — Gavilan, Reche and Highland — were at least 50 percent contained, while the largest — the Rabbit Fire — raged at only 10 percent containment, forcing ongoing evacuations.

“That is our most active fire and our largest fire and the fire that’s staffed with the most amount of resources and equipment,” Commander Josh Janssen said in a video posted by the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department Twitter account.

At 7,600 acres, the Rabbit fire — initially reported Friday afternoon in the unincorporated community of Lakeview — was the only wildfire with outstanding evacuation orders as of mid-day Sunday.

High temperatures, steep terrain and difficult access proved challenging to the more than 800 emergency personnel responding to the blaze, according to authorities.

“It’s just an inferno," Axel Sanchez, who works at Mr. Taco in Beaumont, told the Los Angeles Times. "Ash is raining down, and people are coming in here covered in ash.”

About 152 structures are threatened by the fire, according to a CalFire update Sunday.

Janssen said firefighters are working to strengthen containment lines, especially at the head of the blaze, where there are several housing communities. Flames were on the outer rim of the subdivision between Highland Springs Avenue to the west and Sunningdale Street to the east briefly prompting evacuation orders Friday.

Areas placed under evacuation order included northeast of Gilman Springs Road, east of Jack Rabbit Trail, west of California Avenue, and west of Beaumont Avenue.

Full containment was not expected until Wednesday, and 152 structures were threatened, authorities said.

There have been two reports of injuries due to the fires. A woman was severely burnt on Gilman Springs Road near where the fire began and was airlifted to a burn center, the Los Angeles Times reported.

A man was burned in the blaze Friday, according to officials. Reports indicated he may have been in or near a vehicle that caught fire. The victim, whose name was not disclosed, was taken to Riverside University Health System-Medical Center in Moreno Valley for treatment.

The newest fire — Gavilan — broke out Saturday afternoon in Lake Matthews, and had expanded to 338 acres as of early Sunday afternoon, but remained 50 percent contained. An evacuation order was downgraded to a warning late Saturday.

All evacuation orders and warnings for the Reche and Highland fires had been lifted by mid-day Sunday, as had related road closures.

The 437-acre Reche Fire in Moreno Valley was 60 percent contained Sunday, after being reported Friday.

The Highland Fire was only 105 acres and started Friday afternoon in Beaumont. As of 8:40 p.m. Saturday, the fire was 70 percent contained by lines of cleared vegetation, and that containment number held steady Sunday.

A fifth brush fire was reported Sunday evening in the densely populated area of Woodcrest in Riverside. Several palm trees had caught fire as flames spread from nearby vegetation. As of 6:30 p.m., it was not clear how many acres had burned.

All of the fires remain under investigation Sunday.

As a result of the fires, the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory that was later extended through at least noon Monday.

City News Service contributed to this report.