Crime & Safety
Bogart Fire Day 3: Burned Acreage Hits 1,470; Containment At 60%
Firefighters at the scene now number more than 500. The cause of the blaze may be children playing with matches, officials said.
CHERRY VALLEY, CA – Firefighters are battling a brush fire in Cherry Valley for a third day today. As of this morning, the fire had scorched 1,470 acres and was 60 percent contained.
The Bogart Fire broke out Tuesday near Winesap Avenue and International Park Road on the edge of Bogart Park.
The fire, which investigators believe was triggered by youths lighting matches near the entrance of the park, has not been threatening homes in the area as of Tuesday night, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
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One firefighter suffered a minor injury while on the fire lines Tuesday and was hospitalized but is expected to be fine. Three other people suffered minor injuries.
There are 513 fire personnel working to contain the blaze, with crews from Cal Fire, the San Bernardino County Fire Department, Beaumont, March Air Reserve Base and Morongo Band of Mission Indians assisting the U.S. Forest Service and Riverside County Fire Department. They've also been receiving help from Hemet-based air tankers and water-dropping helicopters.
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At its height, the fire was on the outskirts of the Banning Bench development and Highland Springs Mobile Home Park on Overland Trail, prompting sheriff's deputies to evacuate those locations. However, all evacuation orders were lifted by 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Residents in the Banning Pass area and the Coachella Valley were warned that winds were likely to push smoke into areas southeast of the fire, posing a health hazard to children and adults with compromised conditions.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory through Thursday morning, indicating smoke impacts and unhealthy air quality in the Banning Pass and Coachella Valley.
Anyone with information in the blaze is urged to call the county's arson hotline at (800) 633-2836. Calls can be placed anonymously.
Also see: Hours-Long Standoff in French Valley Continues Into Nightfall
Previous coverage:
- Brush Fire Blackens 1,300 Acres in Cherry Valley
- Amazing Photos Show Power, Growth of Bogart Fire Near Beaumont
- Investigators: Beaumont Fire That Scorched 1,000 Acres is Human-Caused
--City News Service/Image by Kelly Martin
