#ManzanitaFire: Beaumont Blaze Burns 5,000 Acres, SR-79 Closure Update

UPDATE --> #ManzanitaFire Day 2: Uncontrolled Blaze Burns Through 5,000 Acres; 1,300 Firefighters Assigned; Fire Camp In Beaumont

BEAUMONT, CA – Hundreds of firefighters were on scene of a 5,000+ acre wildfire south of Beaumont late into Monday night, the Riverside County Fire Department reports. The blaze, dubbed the Manzanita Incident, was first reported at 3:10 p.m. in Lambs Canyon, on the east side of State Route 79 near the county landfill.

"The fire is currently 50 + acres burning at a critical rate," Jody Hagemann of the Riverside County Fire Department said at 3:10 p.m. "CHP requested to close Highway 79 in both directions at Gilman Springs."

CHP reports soon indicated that the fire had spread to both sides of the highway. Come 6:15 p.m., the size had grown to 1,200.

By 11:45 p.m., it had ballooned to 5,000 acres -- with just 10 percent containment.

"The Manzanita Fire is now 5000 acres and 10% contained," fire officials reported late Monday night.

EVACUATIONS

Despite an emergency alert that many area residents received late Monday, there were no mandatory evacuations in place as of 11:30 p.m. Officials tell Patch that there was an error with the emergency alert messaging system.

At 5:40 p.m., the Riverside County Fire Department announced the following voluntary evacuations:

• HIGHLAND HOME ROAD
• LONGHORN ROAD
• DEATH VALLEY ROAD
• SHIRLEON DRIVE

The fire department also warned local mountain communities to be ready to evacuate.

"EVACUATION WARNING ISSUED FOR HIGHLAND HOME ROAD EAST TO HIGHWAY 243, WHICH INCLUDES THE COMMUNITIES OF POPPET FLATS AND SILENT VALLEY," the agency posted online at 6:30 p.m.

Crews were faced with high temperatures nearing 100 degrees in the area, along with high winds at times. Smoke was billowing east, in the direction of Cabazon and the Coachella Valley. The area was under a Red Flag warning when the blaze broke out, meaning "[a]ny fires that develop will likely spread rapidly," according to the weather service, which warned against outdoor burning earlier Monday.

Fox 11 was overhead the blaze and was streaming live footage from the scene, which is embedded both above and below.

CHP officials tell Patch that as of 3:50 p.m., Lambs Canyon was closed in both directions between California Street in Beaumont and Gilman Springs Road. It remained closed until nearly midnight.

As of the last fire department update for Monday night at 11:45 p.m., Lambs Canyon finally opened back up, at least partially.

"Highway 79 southbound lanes are re-opened and northbound is limited to one lane," officials said. "This will be the final update for this evening. Unless significant activity dictates otherwise, the next update will be posted tomorrow morning."

"Evacuation warnings remain in place for Highland Home Road, east to Highway 243 including the communities of Poppet Flats and Silent Valley," fire officials said late Monday.

There are 360 firefighters, 28 engine companies, 8 air tankers, 15 fire crews, 5 bulldozers, 3 helicopters and 4 water tenders on scene, according to fire reports.

Multiple agencies are assisting CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department, including: Corona City FD, Murrieta FPD, Riverside City FD, Idyllwild FPD, Palm Springs FD, March Reserve Base FD, San Bernardino County FD, Hemet FD, Riverside County Emergency Management Department.

CAUSE DETERMINED

Fire officials believe that a crash sparked the blaze on Monday.

"The cause of the fire was determined to be the result of a traffic collision with fire," Hagemann said at 6:15 p.m. "Two patients were transported to area hospitals with unknown extent of injuries."

CHP incident logs indicate that a white Lexus SUV crashed in the area of the fire around the same time that it was first reported.

Below are some photos from the scene. If you have more photos you'd like to share, please upload them to the comments section below.

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Main image credit: Captain Lucas Spelman, Riverside County Fire Department / Other images: Renee Schiavone, Patch