Riverside County Wildfire Contained at 500 Acres

Five hundred acres have been blackened in the hills between Glen Avon and
Fontana, but fire crews fully contained the grass-and-brush blaze early this
morning, though some crews remain on scene extinguishing hotspots and
mopping up.

No injuries or damage have been reported, though deputy sheriffs temporarily
evacuated residents of 32 mobile homes yesterday in the 126-unit Santiago
Estates Mobile Home Park in Glen Avon. Cause of the fire hasn't been
determined.

The flames ignited at 1:31 p.m. Wednesday north of Highway 60 near Granite
Hill and Quartz Canyon Roads. The first fire crew to arrive reported that
two acres had burned and a 15-mph wind was helping to spread the flames.

At the height of the blaze, four air tankers and three water-dropping
helicopters were helping at least 215 fire fighters, including nine hand
crews.

The flames had blackened 300 acres by 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, and crews had cut
fire line around only 30 percent of the perimeter.

By 4:30 a.m. today, an additional 200 acres had burned, but crews had dug
containment lines around the entire perimeter.

As of 9:30 p.m. last night, the fire was 30 percent contained and burning
slowly northeast in the hills along the backside of Fontana, according to
Capt. Fernando Herrera, a spokesman for the Cal Fire. There was no estimate
on when it would be fully contained.

By late evening, although the fire was moving from an area with lighter
fuels in Riverside County toward denser fuels in San Bernardino County, the
wind had died down, which was helping firefighting efforts, Herrera said. No
evacuations were ordered as of 9:30.

However, firefighters were keeping an eye on a subdivision north of the
Jurupa Hills in case the flames threatened homes there. A large block wall
built around the hillside would provide protection, Herrera said.

Earlier Wednesday, authorities issued evacuation orders for 32 of 126 units
in the Santiago Estates Mobile Home Park. Residents were eventually allowed
to return.

More than 200 firefighters were deployed to the fire, along with 34 engines,
three helicopters and planes. The California Highway Patrol and Riverside
County Sheriff's Department controlled access to the scene and assisted with
evacuations.

Story continues below

Terry Pierson/The Press-Enterprise
A homeowner in Santiago Estates talks on the phone as a fast-moving grass
fire threatens homes in Glen Avon.
The CHP closed Pyrite Street north of the freeway and Granite Hill Drive
between Pedley Road and Pyrite Street. Access was limited to fire equipment.

The fire was visible throughout the Riverside area. One of those watching
was Giselle Santiago-Chanette, whose house was at the base of a hill near
the flames.

"(It's) very scary, especially when you're alone and disabled," she said.

Staff writer Jennifer Whitaker contributed to this report.

Reach Jeff Horseman at 951-375-3727 or jhorseman@PE.com
http://www.pe.com/localnews/stories/PE_News_Local_D_wavon13.3a97660.html