Bonny Fire Swells To 2.2K Acres, Evacuation Orders In Place

Update, 7 a.m. Sunday: As of Sunday morning, the Bonny Fire remained at just over 2,200 acres, threatening 786 structures with containment at 5 percent, according to authorities.

"Firefighters made good progress throughout the night on the Bonny Fire, however, extremely rugged and steep terrain remains a challenge," authorities said in an update Sunday morning. "The change in weather patterns and continued chance of thunderstorms today and tomorrow heightens the risk of erratic fire behavior."

Firefighters planned Sunday to continue cooling hot spots and constructing containment lines around the perimeter.

Evacuation orders were in place Sunday morning for north of the San Diego County Line; east of Bonny Lane; and south of Bowers Road, Bailey Road, and Ramsey Road West of Anza Borrego State Park.

Evacuation warnings were affecting areas north of the San Diego County Line; east of Spanish Spur Trail; south of La Cima Road/Indian Paint Brush Road; and west of Anza Borrego State Park.

Old Mitchell Camp Road between Chihuahua Valley Road and Cooper Cienega Truck Trail was closed, as was Chihuahua Valley Road between Old Mitchell Camp Road and Highway 79.

Update, 7:55 p.m. Saturday: The Bonny Fire grew to 2,206 acres as of Saturday evening. And the rugged, steep terrain and the chance of thunderstorms through the weekend heighten the risk of erratic fire behavior, officials said Saturday night.

The blaze now threatens 786 structures — up from 632 that the Riverside County Fire Department reported Saturday morning. Although the fire remains 5 percent contains, the agency says firefighters made "good progress."

Evacuation orders are in place for the following areas:

• north of the San Diego County border
• east of Bonny Lane
• south of Bowers Road, Bailey Road and Ramsey Road
• west of Anza Borrego State Park

Firefighters will continue constructing containment lines around the fire perimeter through Saturday evening.

Updated, 2:15 p.m. Saturday

AGUANGA, CA — The Bonny Fire continued burning east of Temecula on Saturday, consuming more than 2,000 acres as fire crews faced extreme temperatures and battled flames over "extremely rugged and steep" terrain.

As of 7 a.m. Saturday, the fire had grown to 2,069 acres and was only 5 percent contained, down from 10 percent earlier Friday, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The brush fire was reported at 2:50 p.m. Thursday near Bonny and Barber lanes, near the edge of the Cahuilla Indian Reservation south of Aguanga. Officials said multiple spot fires were occurring ahead of the blaze as the flames pushed toward the northeast.

Shortly after it started Thursday, the fire nearly swept across Chapman and Johnston roads, prompting Cal Fire air tankers and water-dropping helicopters to unload near several homes, protecting them from damage, according to reports from the scene.

On Thursday evening, the head of the fire jumped a road amid light winds and moved into hills, creating challenges for ground personnel.

One outbuilding and a vehicle were destroyed Friday afternoon.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, fire officials said the blaze was burning just south of Anza and was moving toward the Terwilliger Valley and into an area bordering land under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management.

According to Riverside County fire officials, the fire displayed "moderate activity overnight" Friday and continues to burn in "extremely rugged and steep terrain." One firefighter was reportedly injured, but officials offered no further details.

On Saturday, fire officials said forecasted hot temperatures and possible thunderstorms would pose challenges for firefighters and likely heighten the risk of "erratic fire behavior."

The forecasted high in the Temecula area Saturday was 95 degrees.

On Saturday, authorities issued an evacuation warning for the following area:

• South of La Cima and Indian Paint Brush roads
• West of Anza Borrego State Park
• North of the San Diego County Line
• East of Spanish Spur Trail

Other evacuation orders went into effect Thursday for the area south of Bailey Road, north of Running Springs Road, west of Chapman Road and east of Bonny Lane. The order was expanded Friday afternoon to include all territory north of the San Diego County line, south of Bailey Road, west of Anza-Borrego State Park and east of Bonny.

Evacuation warnings also remained in place for the area south of Tulle Peak Road, north and east of the Cleveland National Forest boundary and west of Terwilliger Road.

See a Cal Fire interactive map here that shows evacuation areas.

A reception and care center for evacuees is set up at Anza's Hamilton High School, 57430 Mitchell Road. The Riverside County Department of Animal Services was at the campus "available to assist anyone displaced with animals," the fire department said.

Residents can evacuate large and small animals to the San Jacinto Animal Campus, 581 South Grand Avenue in San Jacinto. Those needing assistance with animal evacuations can call 951-358-7387.

As of 5 p.m. Friday, the blaze forced the following road closures:

• Old Mitchell Camp Road between Chihuahua Valley Road and Cooper Cienega Truck Trail
• Chihuahua Valley Road between Old Mitchell Camp Road and Highway 79

The fire also prompted the South Coast Air Quality Management District to issue a smoke advisory. The advisory is in effect through Saturday in eastern Riverside County. See the map below.

Officials said 1,060 firefighters were battling the blaze from the air and ground Saturday.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

City News Service contributed to this report.