Crime & Safety
Rosa Fire In San Bernardino National Forest Now 85% Contained
Travelers were advised to drive safely near the area as emergency crews continued working.
ANZA, CA — A brush fire in the San Bernardino National Forest east of Anza was 85% contained Sunday at 1,671 acres, with all evacuation orders reduced to warnings and some evacuation warnings lifted.
"Firefighters are aggressively working to strengthen perimeter control lines, mop up and tactically patrol," Riverside County Fire Department officials said Sunday. "Fire activity remains minimal, limited to isolated smoldering in heavy dead and down fuels."
The Rosa Fire was reported at 12:25 p.m. Aug. 4 on the north side of Highway 74 at Santa Rosa Truck Trail. No injuries or structure damage have been reported.
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As of Saturday afternoon all mandatory orders were converted to warnings, enabling residents in the area north of the Santa Rosa Truck Trail, east of Santa Rosa Road, south of Saint Pierre Road and west of Palm Canyon Drive to return to their properties at their convenience.
The closure of Highway 74 from Palm Desert to Anza was also lifted, according to the Cal Fire.
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Travelers were advised to drive safely near the area as emergency crews continued working.
"As you return home, you may see smoke or fire due to unburned pockets of fuel within the fire's perimeter," the county fire department said in a statement intended for those previously in the evacuation zones.
At the fire's peak, more than 1,000 firefighters were engaged. However, crews were being released this weekend and Cal Fire air tankers were no longer involved in operations. The number of personnel fighting the fire was just under 600 as of Sunday morning.
A care and reception center remained available at the Anza Community Center, 56630 Highway 371, and impacted residents continued to have the option of leaving their pets, free of charge, under the supervision of staff at either the Coachella Valley Animal Campus at 72-050 Pet Land Place in Thousand Palms, or the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, 581 S. Grand Ave.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
— City News Service
