With multiple fires starting this weekend throughout the arid landscapes of Riverside and San Bernardino counties, the Southern California wildfire season got off to a shaky start, raising concerns for a large portion of the Golden State this summer and fall.
The Wolf fire near Banning, which has caused hundreds to evacuate, was still being fought by firefighters on Monday.
According to a California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection update, the fire had spread to 1,400 acres and was 10% contained. On top of the approximately 750 individuals who were already under evacuation advisories or orders on Sunday, authorities said at least two more areas were forced to flee overnight. Hemet High School has been designated as an emergency refuge for evacuees.
Over the weekend, temperatures in parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties rose, which sparked the fire. After a below-average rainy season in Central and Southern California, the vegetation is dried, creating the conditions for an active fire season, even if the winds weren’t very strong and the humidity was unusually low.
“We’re starting to see fires about to break out because we haven’t had that meaningful rainfall that we need because things have been so dry,” said Sam Zuber, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in San Diego. It’s just so dry outside.
According to Zuber, the upper 90s for the Inland Empire and triple digit temperatures in the Southland deserts will start to drop through Wednesday, which should make things easier for firefighters.
However, the terrain will continue to be bone-dry, she predicted.
Nine new fires were reported to Cal Fire only this past weekend, including many in Riverside, San Bernardino, and northern counties.
The Wolf fire was still the biggest by far. With several planes and hundreds of firefighters on the ground, Cal Fire officials reported Monday morning that personnel had made significant progress on the fire overnight and anticipated continuing to push it back. According to the agency, the fire started just after 3 p.m. on Sunday near the intersection of Wolfskill Truck Trail and Old Banning Idyllwild Road.
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Cal Fire reports that the Mindy wildfire in Aguanga began on Sunday as well and was approximately 100 acres in size by Monday morning, with nearly 70% containment.
According to the most recent Cal Fire data, the Mandalay fire in the Jurupa Valley also started on Sunday and has spread to 63 acres without being contained.
The Cable fire, which started in Cable Canyon in Devore on Sunday, was 15% contained on Monday morning and was still occupying roughly 15 acres. According to Cal Fire officials, a fireman was hospitalized for a heat-related ailment.
More than 100 people were forced to leave Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area on Saturday due to the lake fire. As of Monday morning, it was still at 478 acres and 15% contained, but according to Cal Fire, crews had managed to halt its spread.
The 83-acre Smiley fire in Ordway also started on Saturday. Cal Fire reported that it was completely contained by Monday AM.
Because of the numerous fires that are still burning, authorities on Monday issued an air quality notice for the Coachella Valley, the Riverside County mountains, and the San Gorgonio Pass, which includes Palm Springs and Idyllwild.
According to the weather service, particles in wildfire smoke can enter the lungs deeply and result in major health issues like heart attacks, strokes, asthma attacks, and trouble breathing. Although anybody can be impacted, those who have heart or lung conditions, are elderly, pregnant, have children, or spend a lot of time outside are more vulnerable.
Authorities were also worried that there would soon be a rise in wildfire activity in a large portion of inland Northern California, extending from Shasta, Tehama, and Trinity counties to the eastern Mendocino National Forest. The weather service upgraded the area to a red flag warning for Monday and Tuesday, stating that winds and thunderstorms might produce hazardous conditions.
According to the red flag warning, lightning can spark new fires, and when combined with strong outflow winds, this can lead to a fire rapidly increasing in size and severity.
