Bonny Fire burns 2305 acres with 20% containment

UPDATE: 07-31-23 at 8:47 am:

According to a CalFire update this morning at 8:47 am, the Bonny Fire has reached 20% containment with 2,305 acres burned. There has been one confirmed injury and one structure burned.

There have been 1884 personnel assigned to this fire, 5 helicopters, 215 engines, 18 dozers, 37 Water Tenders, and 42 crews.

There remain road closures at Old Mitchell Camp Road between Chihuahua Valley Road and Cooper Cienega Truck Trail and Chihuahua Valley Road between Old Mitchell Camp Road and Highway 79.

AGUANGA  – Firefighters today boosted the lines of cleared vegetation around a 2,206-acre brush fire that erupted on the edge of the Cahuilla Indian Reservation south of Aguanga, increasing that containment to 10% amid weather concerns.
“Firefighters continued constructing handline around the fire perimeter, with no significant fire growth throughout the day,” the Riverside County Fire Department reported Sunday evening. “Extremely steep and rugged terrain and areas with limited fire history remain a challenge. Widely scattered thunderstorms with gusty and erratic winds through the night could increase fire activity. Thunderstorms are predicted to last through Tuesday.”
Firefighters planned to continue working to improve fire lines, cooling hot spots, and digging more containment lines around the fire perimeter, officials said.
The Bonny Fire was reported at 2:50 p.m. Thursday near Bonny and Barber lanes, according to the fire department. Full containment isn’t expected until Aug. 7.
One firefighter was injured battling the blaze, but fire officials offered no further details.
The force battling the flames included 2,066 firefighters from Riverside and cooperating agencies, officials said. Seven helicopters and “numerous” air tankers were working overhead.
The fire threatened 786 structures and destroyed one outbuilding.
An evacuation order remained in effect for the area north of the San Diego County line, east of Bonny Lane, south of Bowers Road, Bailey Road and Ramsey Road and west of Anza Borrego State Park.
An evacuation warning was also 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.
A care and reception center was established at Hamilton High School in Anza. The county Department of Animal Services stationed personnel at the location to assist with displaced animals, who were being housed at the San Jacinto Animal Campus at 581 South Grand Ave.
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.
On Thursday evening, the head of the fire jumped a road amid light winds and moved into hills, creating challenges for ground personnel.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District had no smoke advisory for the area as of Sunday night, after the fire prompted one initially.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Progress Reported in Battle vs. 2,206-Acre Fire Near Aguanga

AGUANGA –  Firefighters continued today to dig lines of cleared vegetation around a 2,206-acre brush fire that erupted on the edge of the Cahuilla Indian Reservation south of Aguanga and was just 5% contained.
“Firefighters made good progress throughout the night on the Bonny Fire, however extremely rugged and steep terrain remains a challenge,” the Riverside County Fire Department reported Sunday morning. “The change in weather patterns and continued chance of thunderstorms today and tomorrow heightens risk of erratic fire behavior. Today, firefighters will continue cooling hot spots and constructing containment line around the fire perimeter.”
The Bonny Fire was reported at 2:50 p.m. Thursday near Bonny and Barber lanes, according to the fire department. Full containment isn’t expected until Aug. 7.
One firefighter was injured battling the blaze, but fire officials offered no further details.
The force battling the flames included 1,884 firefighters from Riverside and cooperating agencies, officials said. Five helicopters and “numerous” air tankers were working overhead. The fire threatened 786 structures and destroyed one outbuilding.
An evacuation order remained in effect for the area north of the San Diego County line, east of Bonny Lane, south of Bowers Road, Bailey Road and Ramsey Road and west of Anza Borrego State Park.
An evacuation warning was also 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.
A care and reception center was established at Hamilton High School in
Anza. The county Department of Animal Services stationed personnel at the location to assist with displaced animals, who were being housed at the San Jacinto Animal Campus at 581 South Grand Ave.
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.
On Thursday evening, the head of the fire jumped a road amid light winds and moved into hills, creating challenges for ground personnel.
The fire prompted the South Coast Air Quality Management District to issue a smoke advisory.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.

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UPDATE: Bonny Fire 2200 acres, 5% containment

AGUANGA – A brush fire that erupted on the edge of the Cahuilla Indian Reservation south of Aguanga expanded to 2,200 acres and was just 5% contained 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 5 p.m. Friday, the brusher was estimated to be roughly 1,900 acres and about 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.
Shortly after 2 p.m., 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.
One outbuilding and a vehicle were destroyed Friday afternoon.
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, comprised of county engine and hand crews, as well as strike teams and other firefighters from the Corona Fire Department, Hemet Fire Department, Murrieta Fire & Rescue and other agencies.
Hot shot crews from Kern County were also dispatched to the area, officials said.
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 and east of Bonny. The order was expanded Friday afternoon to include all territory north of the San Diego County line, south of Bailey, west of Anza-Borrego State Park and east of Bonny.
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.
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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AGUANGA (CNS) – A brush fire that erupted on the edge of the Cahuilla Indian Reservation south of Aguanga expanded to 1,500 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 2 p.m. Friday, the brusher was estimated to be at, or slightly in excess of, 1,500 acres and 10% contained, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

Officials said multiple spot fires were occurring ahead of the blaze, as the flames pushed toward the northeast.

One outbuilding and a vehicle were destroyed Friday afternoon, according to reports from the scene.

Other structures, including homes, were in the path of the flames, but they were not imminently threatened as of 2 p.m. Friday.

Four Cal Fire air tankers and two water-dropping helicopters were rotating in and out of the area, providing support to an estimated 150 to 200 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. The order was expanded Friday afternoon to include all territory north of the San Diego County line, south of Bailey, west of Anza-Borrego State Park and east of Bonny.

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.

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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CNS-07-28-2023 14:16