AGUANGAÂ – A brush fire that erupted on the edge of the Cahuilla Indian Reservation south of Aguanga was approaching 1,000 acres today, as crews contended with a cluster of spot fires breaking out ahead of the main blaze.
The “Bonny Fire” was reported about 2:50 p.m. Thursday in the area of Bonny and Barber lanes, and as of 11:30 a.m. Friday, the brusher was close to 950 acres and 10% contained, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
Officials said that multiple spot fires were occurring ahead of the blaze, as the flames pushed toward the northeast.
Some structures were in the path of the flames, but it was unclear whether they were imminently threatened.
Four Cal Fire air tankers and two water-dropping helicopters were rotating in and out of the area, providing support to an estimated 150 personnel on the ground, comprised of county engine and hand crews, as well as firefighters from the Corona Fire Department, Hemet Fire Department, Murrieta Fire & Rescue and other agencies.
On Thursday evening, the head of the fire jumped a road amid light winds and moved into hills, creating challenges for ground personnel.
An evacuation order went into effect a short time later for the area south of Bailey Road, north of Running Springs Road, west of Chapman Road and east of Bonny.
Evacuation warnings followed for the area south of Tulle Peak Road, north and east of the Cleveland National Forest boundary and west of Terwilliger Road.
The area is sparsely populated.
A care and reception center was established at Hamilton High School, 57430 Mitchell Road, in Anza. The county Department of Animal Services stationed personnel at the location to assist with displaced animals.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
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Bonny Fire blaze burns 950 acres, spot fires continue to break out
AGUANGAÂ – Firefighters are batting a brush fire today that erupted on the edge of the Cahuilla Indian Reservation south of Aguanga. The “Bonny Fire” in Aguanga is estimated to be close to 950 acres as of 11:30 a.m., according to officials at the scene. Crews are trying
to rein in spot fires that are continually breaking out ahead of the main blaze.
The Riverside County Fire Department issued evacuation warnings just after midnight for areas south of Tulle Peak, south of Ramsey, west of Terwilliger, east of and north of Forestry Boundary.
The non-injury Bonny Fire was reported about 2:50 p.m. Thursday in the area of Bonny and Barber lanes, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. The fire was 5% contained, the department reported at 7:10 p.m Thursday.
Multiple engine and hand crews from Riverside County, the U.S. Forest Service and other agencies were sent to the remote location and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate through medium vegetation, with scattered houses and outbuildings in the path of the fire, a Riverside County Fire Department official said.
Six Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters made a series of runs on the blaze that closed off the left flank and mitigated the threat to most of the structures, according to the department.
The head of the fire jumped a road amid light winds and moved into hills, creating challenges for ground personnel, according to reports from the scene.
Personnel were also contending with spot fires popping up outside the main conflagration, relying on air support to help knock them down.
An evacuation order was issued for south of Bailey Lane, west of Chapman Road, north of Running Springs Road and east of Bonny Lane at around 7:45 p.m. Thursday. An evacuation warning was issued for the area south of Tulle Peak, south of Ramsey, west of Terwilliger, east of and north of Forestry Boundary.
The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
A reception and care center has been established at Hamilton High School.
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