The blaze, being called the Chambers Fire, was first reported at around 6:10 p.m. near Chambers Street and Gilbert Street, according to the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department. The next morning, on Tuesday, Hemet Fire Department Captain Laura Axcell said one firefighter suffered a minor injury and no structures were threatened, damaged or destroyed by the brush fire.

Ground crews and fire dozers worked to contain the flames as they moved towards Domenigoni Parkway Monday night. They say that forward progress was halted as the fire burned in a remote part of the city at around 7:30 p.m. 

Much of Southern California was under red flag warning due to the strong winds and dry conditions that present high fire danger. National Weather Service officials said that winds between 25 to 40 mph were expected with some gusts reaching up to 60 mph.

With SkyCal over the scene, a hand crew could be seen dousing the flames just a few feet ahead of a fire dozer following close behind. While five fire engines were initially sent in, another five engines later responded as firefighters requested more resources.

Axcell said the brush fire had been pushing uphill and was just beginning to threaten the Seven Hills community in Hemet before firefighters stopped the forward progress of the flames.

The post Chambers Fire burned in Hemet amid high-powered winds before firefighters put it out appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Following a surge in the Line Fire on September 29, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department told Seven Oaks residents to leave the small mountain community.

Angelus Oaks residents were also asked to evacuate, while those living in the Boulder Bay area along Big Bear Lake were told to be ready to move out.

The San Bernardino National Forest said on September 29, the Line Fire had spread over 62.6 square miles and was 83 percent contained, with 1,176 personnel assigned to fight the blaze. The blaze threatened more than 65,000 homes.

A California man, Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, of Norco, pleaded not guilty on September 17 to starting the Line Fire on September 5. According to court records, he was charged with 11 arson-related crimes.

Temperatures are expected to rise this week across California. Dry, hot winds in the northern part of the state prompted Pacific Gas & Electric to preemptively cut power to about 1,200 customers in Butte and Shasta counties. The utility routinely cuts electricity service in areas where weather conditions increase the risk of fires.

The post Wildfire prompts evacuations in Southern California mountain areas appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The bones were found by Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Station deputies at approximately 3:44 p.m. Saturday along Highway 330, south of City Creek Road, in Running Springs, according to the sheriff’s department.

“The bones appear to have been in that location for an extended period of time and investigators do not believe the cause of death is related to the fire,” the sheriff’s department reported.

There was no word as to whether foul play is suspected. The San Bernardino County coroner’s office is working to determine the identity and cause of death of the deceased.

The sheriff’s Specialized Investigations Division is conducting the death investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact the division at 909-890-4804. Callers wishing to remain anonymous can contact We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME (27463) or go to wetip.com.

As of Monday morning, Cal Fire reported the Line Fire had burned 39,026 acres and was 42% contained.

To date, crews have determined that four structures were damaged by the fire and one was destroyed. Inspections include residences, multi-family dwellings, outbuildings and commercial buildings, according to Cal Fire.

Three firefighters have been injured battling the blaze.

Evacuation orders continued Monday for all undeveloped land east of Highway 330 to Summertrail Place and north of Highland Avenue, according to Cal Fire. The San Bernardino National Forest is closed in and around the fire.

Several communities remain under an evacuation warning and Highway 330 is closed. See complete lists here.

Human and animal evacuation shelters remained open Monday. Find the lists here.

Justin Wayne Halstenberg, the 34-year-old Norco man accused of intentionally setting the Line Fire on Sept. 5 is scheduled to appear at an arraignment hearing Monday in San Bernardino County.

He is expected to enter pleas on nine felony charges filed Thursday by the district attorney’s office, alleging Halstenberg set three fires in Highland. Prosecutors said the first fire was extinguished by the local fire department and the second was stomped out by a passerby before the third spiraled out of control into the Line Fire.

If he is found guilty on all charges, he could face life in prison.

The post Human Bones Found In Inland Empire’s Line Fire appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The fire was burning in Decker Canyon, not far from El Cariso Village, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Division Chief Todd Hopkins said during the 4 p.m. news event.

With the fire’s highway crossing, areas along Southwest Riverside County’s western edges are at greater risk. At approximately 4 p.m. Tuesday, officials announced updated evacuation orders for the area.

Nearly all Airport Fire evacuation orders are in Riverside County. See an evacuation map here. Also, Cal Fire has an online tool that lets residents and business owners quickly determine the evacuation status for their street address. Find the tool here.

During the news conference, officials said the Airport Fire has burned over 10,000 acres with zero containment. Read more about the Airport Fire here.

Cleveland National Forest Fire Chief Talbot Hayes confirmed the fire is being fueled by hot weather, “barely hikeable” steep terrain, and dry fuel.

The blaze is being attacked by ground and air. Conditions permitting, aircraft will fly after dark, according to the officials.

Fires that burn above Lake Elsinore in the Cleveland National Forest are a particular challenge due to what is called the “Elsinore Effect.” The phenomenon caused by the steep mountains and hostile weather patterns can cause extremely erratic fire behavior, according to Hopkins.

During the 1959 Decker Fire, the Elsinore Effect was not well understood. Andrew “Rusty” Brooks, Boyd Edwards, John Guthrie, Nelson Harlan, Stephen Johnson, and Durward “Ben” Slater lost their lives battling the blaze.

The Airport Fire forced the closure Tuesday of state Route 74 (Ortega Highway) in both directions between Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore and the Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute entrance in unincorporated San Juan Capistrano. Read more here.

While a count on lost structures due to the Airport Fire was not available during the news conference, Hayes said Cleveland National Forest cabins were likely damaged. Assessments were underway, according to the chief.

Officials said that communications towers on Santiago Peak were still functioning Tuesday. Social media photos have shown the towers in a backdrop of flames, but air personnel made additional fire-retardant runs on the peak to prevent damage to the crucial equipment, according to officials.

Officials again stressed that firefighting efforts across Southern California are hampered by the sheer magnitude of the current blazes. In addition to the Airport Fire, the Line Fire in San Bernardino County and the Bridge Fire in Los Angeles County are burning. Read more about those fires here. Together, more than 70,000 acres are currently on fire in the region.

The post Airport Fire Jumps Ortega Highway In Notorious Decker Canyon appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

SAN JACINTO, CA — An evacuation warning was in place Monday in the Poppet Flats area of San Jacinto as firefighters battled a 517-acre brush fire that authorities believed was human-caused.

The fire was reported around 2:20 p.m. Sunday near the intersection of Soboba and Gilman Springs roads, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

At the time of the initial report, the upslope-burning fire was estimated at five acres, but grew to 650 acres by 7:30 p.m., according to the fire department.

The fire was 15% contained by Monday morning, and later downgraded to 517 acres early Monday afternoon.

An evacuation warning was issued in parts of Poppet Flats north of Wolf Road, west of Partridge Street and Hungry Hollow Road, south of Old Idyllwild Road and east of Gubner, according to the fire department.

Multiple air and ground resources were on the scene.

Six firefighters were taken to a hospital with minor medical symptoms, the department said.

Officials did not say whether they believed the fire was accidentally or intentionally set.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an air quality alert for increased fine particle pollution from the fire in the areas of Riverside, Palm Springs, Corona, Moreno Valley, Fontana, Indio, Cathedral City, Palm Desert, Idlyllwild-Pine Cove and the Coachella Valley.

The post ‘Human-Caused’ Brush Fire in San Jacinto Prompts Evacuation Warnings appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.