Manzanita Fire Grows To 5,000 Acres In South California, Evacuation Warnings Issued

A wildfire south and east of Beaumont, California, that broke out Monday afternoon grew to 5,000 acres late Monday, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department announced in a Facebook update.

Dubbed the Manzanita Fire, the blaze broke out following a single-car crash in Lamb Canyon. Two people were hospitalized due to the crash for unknown injuries.

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The fire was first reported at 3:10 p.m. PDT (6:10 p.m. EDT) Monday and subsequently led to the closure of Highway 79 North between the 10 Freeway in Beaumont and Gilman Springs Road north of San Jacinto. However, 11:45 p.m. PDT Monday the highway was reopened, according to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department’s post on Facebook.

The department issued an evacuation warning for Highland Home Road east to Highway 243, including communities of Poppet Flats and Silent Valley. Voluntary evacuations were issued for Highland Home Road, Death Valley Road, Longhorn Road and Shirleon Drive, according to the fire department. Nearly 400 firefighters were working to douse the fire, the department said adding that two ambulances were dispatched to the scene. No deaths were reported in the incident, the department confirmed.

At 9:30 p.m. PDT fire officials said the wildfire was 10 percent contained.

"At this time the fire is moving as fast as it can move in this type of situation. As we move down it makes it easier to fight the fire but when it is critical we really just have to make sure and plan ahead and use aircraft and helicopters and get crews in and make sure we can take care of it," Cal Fire Capt. Lucas Spelman told KTLA, owned by Tribune Broadcasting. "But it is a dangerous, critical fire," he added.

By 4 p.m. PDT, the fire spread to 125 acres and grew to 1,200 acres shortly after 6 p.m. PDT, according to the department.

More than 30 engine companies, truck companies, brush rigs and several local agencies were helping Cal Fire/Riverside County firefighters to contain the blaze. Cities of Corona, Riverside, Palm Springs, and Hemet Fire Departments; City of Murrieta and Idyllwild Fire Protection Districts, March Reserve Fire Department, San Bernardino County Fire Department and the Riverside County Emergency Management Department were helping the fire department, according to Valley News.

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At least three helicopters, eight air tankers, fifteen inmate fire crews, four water tenders, five bulldozers and a helitender were at the scene, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer Jody Hagemann told Valley News. California Highway Patrol, Riverside County sheriff’s Department, and Banning Police Department were helping with traffic control and road closures, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Riverside County sheriff's officials reportedly said they "accidentally" sent out evacuation alerts in the areas, including Norco, Corona, and Jurupa Valley, where there was no fire. The department also said it was "working to correct it."