160-Acre Banning Brush Fire Fully Contained

BANNING, CA — A 160-acre brush fire on the south side of Banning that forced road closures, injured a firefighter and at one point threatened to spread into the San Bernardino National Forest was fully contained Saturday, three days after it first ignited.

The fire was reported at 2:20 p.m. Wednesday in a field near a campground and school in Banning in the 100 block of Westward Avenue, near San Gorgonio Avenue, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

Fire officials believe the fire was started by someone who set fire to a stolen vehicle, causing the surrounding dry grasses to ignite. The exact location of the vehicle was not specified.

On Thursday, the fire was 60% contained and had been recalculated to 160 acres, fire officials reported. Friday morning, Cal Fire updated the containment to 95% before declaring that the fire was fully contained Saturday morning.

One firefighter suffered minor burns and was taken to a hospital.

Crews from Riverside County and the Calimesa Fire Department initially responded to the fire, encountering flames moving at a moderate rate toward the KOA Campground, just west of Banning High School. The school and campground were promptly evacuated.

On Wednesday, an evacuation warning was issued for residents in the area between state Route 243 on the south and Charles Street on the north, between South Hathaway Street and San Gorgonio Avenue, but the warning was lifted later that evening when fire officials proclaimed that the forward spread of the fire had been halted.

The fire also prompted the Banning Police Department to close Westward Avenue between 12th Street and San Gorgonio. State Route 243 also was closed from Smith Creek to Poppet Flats, though all roads have been reopened. Nonetheless, fire officials urged motorists to use caution while driving in the area.

Anyone with information on the person who set the vehicle on fire was urged to call 800-633-2836.

—City News Service