3 IE Fires Ignite Overnight, Nearly 180K Residents May Lose Power

INLAND EMPIRE, CA — After a night of gusting winds across the Inland Empire, two fires were burning in Riverside County and a third in San Bernardino County amid gusting Santa Ana winds. A Red Flag Warning remained in place until Thursday as residents brace for another day of dangerous fire conditions.

As of Wednesday morning, 25,585 SoCal Edison customers were without power due to a Power Safety Shutoff, as were 23,305 San Bernardino County customers, according to SoCal Edison. Another 180,000 SoCal Edison customers across the Inland Empire were under a Power Safety Shutoff consideration.

Fires and spot fires ignited overnight, burning in Anza, Mentone, and Coachella, according to fire officials. Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department personnel stopped the forward progress of a vegetation fire in Anza Wednesday that threatened nearby structures.

The Anza blaze was first reported about 4:45 a.m. as a four-acre fire in the 54000 block of Highway 371, accompanied by strong winds, according to a department statement.

Crews were able to stop the fire's expansion within three hours, committing to remain on the scene for an additional four hours for mop-up, the department said.

Highway 371 was closed between Bahrman Road and Cahuilla Casino, but no injuries were reported and no evacuations were ordered.

In Mentone, as of 6 a.m., a single-story commercial structure ignited on the 2100 block of Mentone Boulevard, according to a San Bernardino County Fire Department. They said arriving firefighters quickly transitioned from an offensive fire attack to a defensive attack as the roof collapsed.

Firefighters from the Redlands Fire Department are assisting firefighters in watching the surrounding neighborhoods for ember-sparked blazes caused by gusting Santa Ana winds.

As of 10 a.m., the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department said there are "no active fires reported in San Bernardino County. High winds can increase fire danger and pose risks such as downed power lines or flying debris. Please remain vigilant."

Two homes were lost in Coachella early Wednesday, Cal Fire/Riverside County Firefighters said.

The vegetation fire was 50% contained, fire authorities said, and was initially reported to be burning 15 acres around 3:24 a.m. in the 47100 block of Tyler Street.

Deputies from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department evacuated affected residents with threatened structures. In an update at 7:30 a.m., the fire department noted the fire had been reduced to 11 acres and the forward progress had been stopped.

The American Red Cross Southern California region was requested for assistance.
No roads had been reported closed and no injuries were reported, according to the fire department.

Cal Fire released a statement indicating that engine and hand crews are transferring from stations in Northern California to the Inland Empire to help attack and spot fires as they occur. This is a massive task in the face of an intense Santa Ana windstorm.

Additional firefighting resources will be deployed Wednesday throughout Riverside County for the remainder of the week.

"When fire conditions end, restoration is expected to take up to 8 hours but could take longer if we need daylight for safe inspections or if we find damage," a SoCal Edison spokesperson said. "The shutoff maps will reflect “power off” until all customers on your circuit segment have had their power restored."

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