RivCo's Wolf Fire Scorches 1,400 Acres, Evacuations Remain In Place

BANNING, CA — Hundreds of firefighters continue to battle the Wolf Fire into Wednesday morning, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department shared. Roughly 2,400 acres south of Banning have burned, with 40% of the area contained as of Wednesday morning. Some evacuation orders remain in place while others have been downgraded, according to officials.

See the most recent fire perimeter, evacuation and evacuation warning maps on Cal Fire here.

As of 8:30 a.m., the blaze was 40 percent contained, 2,414 acres had burned, and over 4,261 structures remained threatened. Three firefighters have been injured as a result of the firefight, Cal Fire reports.

"Last night, fire crews continued working in steep terrain through the night, bolstering containment lines around the fire. Today, with the anticipated temperatures a few degrees cooler and slightly higher relative humidity, crews will continue mopping up and patrolling the fire line seeking out hot spots," according to the most recent Cal Fire report, at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday.

How it began:

The Wolf Fire, which was first reported just after 3 p.m. Sunday at Old Banning Idyllwild Road and Wolfskill Truck Trail, officials say. The fire burned at a moderate rate in medium to heavy brush, a department spokesperson told Patch.

Read also: Banning Fire Map: See Wolf Fire Perimeter, Evacuation, Evacuation Warning Areas

Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place during the firefight, and were expected to fluctuate when firefighters gain an upper hand on the event.

Firefighters were actively battling a blaze that was rushing uphill off State Highway 243, with much of the roadway painted red with Phos-Chek, according to reports from the scene. Heavy black smoke erupted from a run of fire burning uphill.

Keep up to date with the most recent evacuation notices here.

There were 70 engines, four helicopters, three water tenders, two dozers, six hand crews, and 300 personnel assigned to the fire, according to the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department officials. The U.S. Forest Service and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department were assisting in a coordinated effort to douse the blaze and keep people and neighborhoods safe during the evacuation.

Shelters were established for residents at Hemet High School, 41701 Stetson Ave., and an animal shelter for evacuated pets opened at the Riverside County Department of Animal Services' San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, 581 S. Grand Ave.

There have been no injuries reported due to the blaze, the cause of which remains under investigation.