Firefighters Reach Full Containment In Deadly Sandalwood Fire

CALIMESA, CA — Six days after a fire ripped through a Calimesa mobile home park, killing two people and leaving dozens of families homeless, fire crews reached full containment on the Sandalwood Fire. As of Monday evening, the Riverside County Fire Department reports the blaze is 100 percent contained. The estimated size remains at 1,011 acres.

The fire was sparked after a trash truck dropped a smoldering load near Interstate 10 and Sandalwood just before 2 p.m. Thursday, according to fire officials. The fire quickly spread to nearby brush, traveled through a nearby canyon and set homes ablaze at the Villa Calimesa Mobile Home Park. Within just hours, the park was decimated. By nightfall, more than 70 homes were a total loss.

All mandatory evacuation orders are now over.

"[A]ll evacuation orders have been lifted resulting from the Sandalwood Fire," the Riverside County Fire Department said Monday. "However, the Villa Calimesa Mobile Home Park remains uninhabitable and closed due to unsafe conditions."

Previous evacuation orders were lifted at 1 p.m. Saturday for the area north of the mobile home park. Authorities said residents returning home should use County Line Road as Seventh Street was shut down between Sandalwood Drive and County Line Road.

SEE PREVIOUS: Second Body Found In Sandalwood Fire As Acreage Grows

Along with the county and Calimesa fire departments, Cal Fire-San Bernardino County and the Yucaipa fire departments were working to encircle the blaze under a unified command.

The temporary shelter set up by the American Red Cross for displaced residents at Mesa Grande Academy closed Sunday, but caseworkers will continue to work with those affected by the fire as they begin the recovery process, the nonprofit said.

Fire victims who would like to speak to a caseworker can call 951-571-8681.
The sheriff advised anyone who has information about the fire, or who is from the area and may have other concerns, to call 951-776-1099 and use option No. 5.

The Red Cross requested donations to its Disaster Relief fund to help those impacted. Donations can be made at www.redcross.org, or 800-733-2767.

— City News Service contributed to this report