Bogart Fire Day 4: Scorched Acreage Holding Steady; Containment At 95%

CHERRY VALLEY, CA – Firefighters today battled their fourth day of a brush fire in Cherry Valley and have the blaze 95 percent contained. The fire is still holding steady with scorched acreage at 1,470.

Assemblymember Chad Mayes of 42nd District and Banning Mayor Art Welch toured the fire scene today, according to Cal Fire officials. (See photos.)

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 threatened homes, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

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.

More than 400 fire personnel were working today 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.

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 this morning, indicating smoke impacts and unhealthy air quality in the Banning Pass and Coachella Valley.

Anyone with information about the blaze was urged to call the county's arson hotline at (800) 633-2836. Calls can be placed anonymously.

Also see: Weekend Weather: Hot, Dry, Windy and High-Risk For Wildfires

Previous Bogart Fire coverage:

• Huge Gains Made On Day 3 In Bogart Fire Containment [UPDATE]
• Bogart Fire Day 3: Burned Acreage Hits 1,470; Containment At 60%
• 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 contributed to this report/Photos via CAL FIRE Riverside ‏@CALFIRERRU of tour with Assembly Member 42 Assembly District Chad Mayes and City of Banning Mayor Art Welch, and from Facebook page of Chad Mayes