As a heat wave bears down on Southern California, bringing triple-digit heat to the Inland Empire, firefighters continued their battle against a fire that broke out in Riverside County.
Officials with Cal Fire Riverside County said Soboba and Gilman Springs roads on Sunday around 2 p.m. The area is adjacent to the Golden Era Golf Course in the San Jacinto area.
The fire, being called the “Record Fire,” had reached 517 acres with 65% containment as of Monday evening, officials with CAL Fire said.
“Helicopters will actively support ground crews by conducting water drops to cool down hot spots and slow the fire’s spread. However, with extreme heat in the area, with temperatures expected to reach near 110°F, conditions remain challenging. The high temperatures and dry conditions will make firefighting efforts more difficult,” fire authorities said on social media.
Amid the blazing temperatures, six firefighters were treated for what authorities described as “minor medical symptoms.”
“Overnight, the fire exhibited minimal growth, allowing firefighters to make significant progress in increasing containment. Firefighters will continue to work throughout the day, strengthening containment lines and addressing any remaining hotspots,” fire authorities said in an update Monday morning.
Evacuation Warning
Evacuation warnings were issued in the area earlier in the week, but had been lifted by Tuesday night.
“Please use caution when returning to the area as fire resources continue working to fully contain the fire,” CAL Fire said.