Banning Brush Fire Blackens 50 Acres: Evacuation Warning Downgraded

BANNING, CA — A brush fire that erupted Friday on the north edge of Banning consumed about 50 acres, burning into the San Bernardino National Forest, before it was stopped.

As of 9 p.m. Friday, firefighters had achieved 50 percent containment and downgraded the evacuation warning issued earlier in the day. According to the Riverside County Fire Department, fire resources will remain on the scene throughout the night, extinguishing hot spots and building containment around the fire.

The non-injury blaze was reported just before noon Friday in the area of Bluff Street and Mias Canyon Road, adjacent to the Banning Sportsman's Club, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said multiple engine and hand crews from the county, U.S. Forest Service, Morongo Indian Reservation, Corona Fire Department and other agencies were sent to the location and encountered flames moving to the east at a rapid rate.

Three Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter initiated runs on the brusher, slowing it down and enabling crews to begin establishing containment lines.

Shortly after 3 p.m., the fire's forward rate of spread was stopped, and all air operations ceased.

An evacuation warning had been in effect for the area north of Sunnyslope Cemetery, west of Hathaway Canyon Road and east of Bluff, as well as the around Banning Bench. There are properties scattered throughout the area, but by 3 p.m., the fire had burned into rugged terrain within the national forest and wasn't threatening homes.

Full containment was expected during the weekend.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

The California Highway Patrol said motorists were calling 911 to report the blaze, but traffic on Interstate 10 about a mile to the south was not impacted.

There was no immediate word regarding what might have triggered the fire.

City News Service