Record fire in San Jacinto burns hundreds of acres; 6 firefighters hospitalized
A human-caused brush fire near San Jacinto stood at 650 acres Monday as firefighters had made significant progress in containing its growth overnight.
Fire crews first responded to the Record fire at 2:17 p.m. Sunday near Soboba and Gilman Springs roads in Riverside County. The blaze quickly grew by hundreds of acres, leading to evacuation warnings and sending six firefighters to local hospitals, according to fire officials.
The evacuation warnings, which remained in effect Monday morning, were issued in the Poppet Flats region, according to fire officials. That area includes the Silent Valley Club RV resort. A map of the area covered by the warning can be found here. The firefighters were transported to area hospitals with minor symptoms "out of an abundance of caution," the Riverside County Fire Department said Sunday evening.
Crews battling the blaze reached 15% containment as of 8 a.m., according to Cal Fire.
"Firefighters will continue to work throughout the day, strengthening containment lines and addressing any remaining hotspots," the agency said in a statement.
Helicopters will assist ground crews, but with temperatures in the area expected to reach 110 degrees, conditions remain challenging, the agency said.
#RecordFire [UPDATE 9/2/24, 8:00 a.m.] The fire remains at 650 acres, and containment has increased to 15%.
For additional fire information, including a searchable map of the Evacuation Warning area, please visit: https://t.co/PDAXaQ7bZl
The Record Fire, initially reported at… pic.twitter.com/dky6WEpiGT— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) September 2, 2024
Cal Fire said the fire was human-caused but did not provide any specifics. The agency said the investigation remained ongoing.
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.