IE Fire Threats Grow Amid Strong Santa Ana Winds, Mountain Snowfall

INLAND EMPIRE, CA — Wildfire threats, Santa Ana winds, and a mix of snow and rain were all in Tuesday's forecast for the Pass Area and the Inland Empire, the National Weather Service said.

Around 4:30 a.m., a small brush fire ignited near an Inland Empire homeless encampment between Colton and Riverside County on the Santa Ana River banks.

San Bernardino County Fire officials raced to the scene, aided by Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department, to find flame-engulfed RVs, cars, structures, and tents. No injuries have been reported in the blaze, with an estimated 20 acres of potential growth. The cause was not immediately known.

The blaze was pushing southward into Riverside County, and a full state response was coming to assist.

"At one point, it was sprinkling rain over the fire," a witness, FirePhotoGirl told Patch over X, formerly Twitter. She and others pointed to the strange weather phenomenon in both counties.

Retired firefighter Dave Toussaint shared the oddity of Santa Ana winds and mountain snows over X, formerly Twitter..

"No one mentioned snow in the mountains. Santa Ana Winds with Snow is not on the bingo cards," he wrote.

Meanwhile, the NWS said the Red Flag Warning was slated to remain in place through Thursday for much of the Inland Empire, and a Mountain Snow Advisory was in place in Big Bear and the San Bernardino Mountains, with up to 2.5 inches expected to dump during the storm. Still, the San Bernardino County Fire Department shared that the Santa Ana winds remained the story of the day.

Nearly 140,000 residents across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties were under a Power Safety Shutoff consideration, according to So Cal Edison, to reduce fire threats from downed power lines.

Gusts were expected to reach 75 miles per hour, and low humidity would increase fire danger, the NWS said.

Relative humidity was expected to plummet on Tuesday and Wednesday, adding to the troublesome fire conditions across the Inland Empire.

They added that residents should have their "Ready, Set, Go" plan in place, sign up for emergency alerts, secure outdoor furniture, and charge their devices, but most importantly, avoid activities that can spark fires during what the NWS called a "Major Santa Ana Wind event."

Regardless, Tuesday would remain a strange weather day for area residents to remember.

Eric Rohrer shared the above photo with Patch via X, formerly Twitter. The photo shows a view of Redlands and Little San Gorgonio. "Crazy weather, fire down here, snow up there!" he said.

Related:

Power Shutoffs Under Consideration Across Much Of Western RivCo: SCE