Emergency crews responded shortly before 10:30 a.m. to Cable Airport, located at 1700 W. 13th Street, after reports that a plane had overturned near the end of the runway. When firefighters arrived, they found a single-engine Cessna flipped upside down, with the nose of the aircraft pressed against a fence while the tail extended onto nearby Dewey Road.

Authorities said the aircraft had been attempting to land but traveled beyond the runway before it could stop. The momentum caused the plane to tip over and come to rest on its roof.

Two people were on board at the time of the incident — the pilot and a female passenger described by officials as elderly. Both occupants were wearing seat belts and were able to exit the aircraft after the crash. While neither suffered serious injuries, the passenger was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital for precautionary evaluation.

Fire officials reported no fuel leaks or fire hazards at the scene, which helped prevent the situation from becoming more severe.

Federal Aviation Administration records show the aircraft was a Cessna T210L registered in Mammoth Lakes. Flight information indicates the plane departed Mammoth Yosemite Airport earlier Wednesday morning before making stops that eventually brought it to Cable Airport in Upland.

Investigators have not yet determined what caused the landing to go wrong. Witnesses at the airport told authorities the pilot appeared to struggle while approaching the runway.

The incident remains under investigation as officials work to determine whether mechanical issues, pilot error, or other factors played a role in the crash.

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As of Wednesday at 6 p.m., Cal Fire/San Bernardino County Fire reports they’ve reached 25% containment on the blaze that reached 4,205 acres in size, a Cal Fire spokesperson said.

The blaze, known as the Ranch Fire, was still burning through brush southeast of Victorville and Apple Valley, and due east of Hesperia, Wednesday morning.

Evacuation orders are in place from Milpas Drive to High Road, south of Highway 18 near Apple Valley, according to the Cal Fire evacuation map. Shelters for people, pets and large animals/livestock remain open as firefighters battle to get the upper hand on the fast-moving wildfire.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation, according to Cal Fire.

Overnight into Wednesday morning, favorable winds and an increase in humidity allowed firefighters to gain ground on the Ranch Fire, according to incident command.

Air support was slated to continue much of Wednesday, they said.

“Weather (Wednesday) will feature low humidity (around 15%) and increasing southerly winds, with gusts up to 32 mph this afternoon—conditions that may challenge containment efforts,” they said. “Poor to moderate overnight recovery is expected, with similar weather continuing into Thursday. Crews will focus on strengthening containment lines, protecting structures, and continuing mop-up efforts throughout the day.”

Potential for more evacuations, possible:

Residents near the fire area were asked to remain prepared for potential evacuations. All were advised to keep their phones fully charged and emergency kits at the ready.

“Avoid the area and do not fly drones, as they interfere with firefighting aircraft,” they said.

Evacuation Information:

People and small pets were being accepted at the Sitting Bull Academy in Apple Valley. At the same time, large animals and livestock were being taken in at the Victorville Fairgrounds, according to emergency coordinators in San Bernardino County

The San Bernardino County Office of Emergency Services has established a website dedicated to the Ranch Fire with important information and valuable resources:
Ranch Fire – Preparedness Starts Here.

The post Destructive Wildfire Singes Over 4200 Acres In The Inland Empire, Evacuations Remain In Place appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

Ryan Spandrio, 30, was off duty when he was involved in the crash, which was reported at 12:15 p.m. by Lake Elsinore Sheriff’s Department deputies.

Deputies arrived at Railroad Canyon Road and Church Street on Tuesday, when they found the county firefighter “in the roadway,” where he was pronounced dead at the scene.

“It is with a heavy heart that we report the tragic loss of our Firefighter, Ryan Spandrio,” the San Bernardino County Fire Department wrote on Instagram Wednesday. “He served with honor, professionalism, and courage.”

Spandrio was a member of Fire Station 224 in San Bernardino. He was described as “a true public servant who demonstrated compassion and a commitment to the community” by the department. He was a resident of Lake Elsinore, according to the coroner’s office.

The Lake Elsinore father was mourned with a procession of law enforcement officers and firefighters after his death as he was escorted to the Riverside County coroner’s office, the Press Enterprise reported.

Funeral details have not yet been released.

Spandrio leaves behind his wife and two children.

The post Off-Duty Firefighter Dies In Lake Elsinore Motorcycle Crash appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.

The non-injury fire was reported just after 10 a.m. Wednesday at Brown Avenue and Wilson Street, at the northeastern edge of Jurupa Valley near the Santa Ana River bottom, according to the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

Multiple engine crews arrived from the county, Cal Fire-San Bernardino County and the city of Riverside were sent to the location. There, they encountered flames moving slowly to the south despite gusting Santa Ana winds.

No structures were threatened.

Officials at the scene said that as of 10:45 a.m., the blaze remained within the mulch pile, but crews were establishing defensive lines in case the fire was spotted at the river bottom.

There was no immediate word regarding how it might have started.

The post Mulch Pile Blaze Erupts In Along RivCo, San Bernardino County Border appeared first on The Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle.