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RIVERSIDE, Calif. — Firefighting teams made significant headway on Saturday as they tackled a fierce wildfire that erupted the previous day in Southern California, necessitating mandatory evacuations.
The blaze, known as the Springs Fire, spans approximately 6.3 square miles (16 square kilometers) in Riverside County, located about 64 miles (103 kilometers) east of Los Angeles. By Saturday, containment had reached at least 45%, according to a spokesperson for the fire department, an improvement from the 25% containment reported on Friday.
Although winds were expected to reach speeds of up to 45 mph (72 kph) on Saturday, Terra Fernandez, a public safety information specialist with the Riverside County Fire Department, noted a decrease in wind intensity from Friday, which proved advantageous for the firefighters.
“We’re feeling confident,” Fernandez stated. “The winds have subsided, which is helping us make more progress.” She also highlighted the successful efforts to establish and reinforce containment lines encircling the fire.
“There are natural equestrian trails around many of the structures, which aids our firefighters in accessing the area,” she explained. “Additionally, the increase in humidity this evening will be beneficial.”
So far, no structures have been damaged or destroyed, Fernandez said.
Crews began early Saturday dropping water and retardant all around the fire by air. About 260 personnel are battling the blaze, including crews from around the region who are building and strengthening the containment lines and laying hose, she said.
Less than a dozen zones in the county remained under mandatory evacuation orders, while evacuation warnings in other parts of the county were lifted. It was not immediately known how many households were affected by the orders.
The fire is located in a populated unincorporated part of Riverside County that’s a recreational area near the city of Moreno Valley, which has a population of roughly 200,000.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.