A brush fire that erupted on the edge of the Cahuilla Indian Reservation south of Aguanga has burned more than 2,200 acres and remained at just 5% containment Saturday.
Crews continued to contend with a cluster of spot fires breaking out ahead of the main blaze, north of the San Diego County line, and new evacuation warnings were issued by authorities.
Cal Fire San Diego reported via social media that the agency has dedicated “many resources” to assist in the firefight, and said the blaze “is not currently a threat to SD County.”
The Bonny Fire was reported at 2:50 p.m. Thursday near Bonny and Barber lanes, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. Full containment isn’t expected until Friday.
“The Bonny Fire displayed moderate fire activity overnight and continues to burn in extremely rugged and steep terrain,” fire officials said in their Saturday morning update. “Today, the escalating temperatures pose additional challenges for firefighting efforts. Moreover, there is a change of thunderstorms developing in the afternoon, heightening the risk of erratic fire behavior.”
Fire officials also reported that a firefighter was injured battling the blaze, but offered no further details.
An evacuation order 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.
An evacuation warning was issued at noon Saturday to include the area of south of La Cima Road/Indian Paint Brush Road, west of Anza Borrego State Park, north of the San Diego County Line and east of Spanish Spur Trail, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
Evacuation warnings 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.
A care and reception center remained open at Hamilton High School in Anza. The county Department of Animal Services stationed personnel at the location to assist with displaced animals.
“Firefighters will continue constructing containment lines around the perimeter,” officials said. “Simultaneously, they are providing structure defense measures to safeguard the residents of Terwilliger Valley from the approaching fire.”
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 in the immediate vicinity of several homes, protecting them from damage, according to reports from the scene.
Five Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters were rotating in and out of the area, providing support to an estimated 150 to 200 personnel on the ground, composed of Riverside County engine and hand crews, as well as strike teams and other firefighters from the region and other parts of California.
The fire prompted the South Coast Air Quality Management District to issue a smoke advisory.
The cause was under investigation.
– City News Service
