One Home Burned, Others Threatened By 1,900-Acre Fire in Cherry Valley
One Home Burned, Others Threatened By 1,900-Acre Fire in Cherry Valley
by Contributing Editor
A wildfire continued to burn with 0% containment in Cherry Valley Saturday, charring 1,900 acres and at least one home, threatening dozens of others and prompting mandatory evacuations throughout the community.
Fire officials said a single-family home and two outbuildings were destroyed near Avenida Miravilla, adding to the destruction of a few cars, a structure and a boat reported Friday night.
Initially, two possible arson fires were reported at 5 p.m. Friday in the area of Apple Tree Lane and Oak Glen Road, on the north end of the unincorporated community bordering Beaumont, and merged into one by 5:45 p.m., the department said.
A third possible arson fire was also reported in the area and had blackened 60 to 80 acres by 7 p.m., according to reports from the scene. Firefighters sent to the location encountered the three blazes coalescing in a drainage with heavy vegetation.
Sheriff’s deputies shut down Oak Glen Road between Cherry Valley Boulevard and Wildwood Canyon Road, and shortly before 6 p.m., multiple streets came under mandatory evacuation orders, impacting an estimated 1,000 residents in 150 homes.
Evacuations were ordered for residents in the Banning Bench area and a hard road closure was in place along North Sunset Avenue at Wilson Street and North San Gorgonio Avenue at Summit Drive, according to the Banning Police Department.
Evacuation orders were extended at 11 p.m. to north of Cherry Valley Boulevard, between Beaumont and Highland Springs avenues, the Riverside County Fire Department said.
All evacuation orders remain in place, the Riverside County Fire Department reported.
A temporary evacuation center was established at Beaumont High School, 39139 Cherry Valley Blvd., and anyone who goes there is subject to COVID-19 testing before being allowed inside, fire department spokesman Fernando Herrera said.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory through Saturday evening for the Coachella Valley, San Gorgonio Pass and Hemet-San Jacinto Valley due to the fire. The agency urged residents in the area who smell smoke or see ash to limit their exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed or to seek alternate shelter, and avoid vigorous physical activity.
As of 10:30 a.m. Saturday, 43 engine crews and 10 hand crews from the RCFD were on the ground battling the blaze, totaling 375 personnel.
Along with county fire crews and Orange County and Anaheim Fire and Rescue firefighters, personnel from the Calimesa, Morongo, Murrieta, Palm Springs, Cathedral City, Huntington Beach, Hemet, Pechanga, San Bernardino and Soboba fire departments were sent to assist under a mutual aid request.
Air tankers and water-dropping helicopters resumed making runs on the wildfire Saturday morning after pausing at sunset Friday.
At the request of the fire department, Southern California Edison turned off electricity along Oak Glen Road and on surrounding side streets to prevent additional fires from breaking out as burned power poles collapsed and dropped transmission lines.
The practice is known as a “public safety power shutoff.”
While the cause of the fires is still under investigation, witnesses called 911 as the fires started, stating a man was seen walking along Apple Tree Lane, igniting each blaze. Arson investigators were dispatched to the area.
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All credit goes to Contributing Editor
Originally published on https://mynewsla.com
