1,938-Acre Bonny Fire Expected To 'Dramatically' Increase In Size

Read the latest: Bonny Fire Swells Past 2K Acres, Evacuation Orders Remain In Place

Last updated at 5:36 p.m. July 28, 2023

AGUANGA, CA — A fire captain said Friday afternoon that the erratic 1,938-acre Bonny Fire burning east of Temecula is expected to get much larger as it burns toward vast open space that is under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management.

The blaze was exhibiting "extreme fire behavior" Friday afternoon, according to a video update from Cal Fire Captain/Public Information Officer Richard Cordova."We anticipate the number of acres is going to increase dramatically due to the way the fire is moving."

The blaze was only 5% contained, down from 10% containment earlier in the day, according to the captain.

Cordova urged residents to follow evacuation orders and warnings. As of 5 p.m. Friday, the captain said the blaze was burning just south of Anza and was moving toward the Terwilliger Valley and into an area bordering BLM land. Expanded evacuation orders include north of the San Diego County border with Riverside County; west of Anza Borrego State Park; south of Bowers, Bailey and Ramsey roads; and east of Bonny Lane.

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.

Nearly 900 firefighters were battling the blaze from the air and ground Friday. Air tankers flew in from out of the area — and out of state — to help with the firefight due to what Cordova said were "extreme fire conditions."

No injuries were reported in the blaze, though one outbuilding and one vehicle were destroyed, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department updates.

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 Bonny Fire was reported about 2:50 p.m. Thursday in the 44000 block of Bonny Lane, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

In addition to Cal Fire/Riverside County crews, personnel from Cal Fire/San Diego, Hemet Fire Department, Murrieta Fire and Rescue, Pechanga Fire Department, Riverside Fire Department, and U.S. Forest Service were involved in the firefight.

The cause of the blaze was not immediately known. (Read about an arson arrest announced Friday in the 103-acre Sunset Fire that broke out Thursday in Banning.)

A smoke advisory was issued Friday by the South Coast Air Quality Management District. The advisory is in effect through Saturday in eastern Riverside County. See a map below.