El Dorado Fire Update: Cause, Evacuations, Acreage Burned

YUCAIPA, CA — The El Dorado Fire west of Oak Glen has burned 11,259 acres and is 19 percent contained, Cal Fire reported Wednesday morning.

More than 900 personnel are assigned to the fire fight, including four helicopters.

Evacuation orders were in place east of the Yucaipa Blvd., Bryant St. intersection. Other evacuation orders included Yucaipa Blvd. to Ave E southeast to the intersection of Mesa Grande; east to Wildwood Canyon Rd. to include all portions of Hidden Meadows; and the southern portion of the Cherry Valley Community from Nancy Lane east to Beaumont Ave. The evacuations included portions of Riverside County down to Orchard St.

Oak Glen (partial), Mountain Home Village, Forest Falls and North Bench Yucaipa (north of Carter St to Highway 38 and both sides of Bryant St east & west) were also under an evacuation order.

An evacuation warning was in place for Beaumont Ave. east to Hillside Place in the Highland Springs area (to the Apple Fire burn perimeter to the north and Cherry Valley Blvd. to the south).

A Red Cross Temporary Evacuation Point has been moved to the cafeteria at Redlands East Valley High School 31000 E. Colton Ave in Redlands.

Riverside County residents can check here to see if their address is under any type of evacuation.

The entire San Bernardino National Forest was closed to all public use.

The fire destroyed an outbuilding over the weekend, but no other damage has been reported.

There have been no reports injuries due to the blaze that ignited around 10:20 a.m. Saturday.

Cal Fire officials said the brusher was sparked by a smoke-emitting firework used at a gender-reveal gathering of family members at El Dorado Ranch Park.

Record heat and dry conditions helped the fire quickly spread north to the Yucaipa Ridge, fire officials said.

The Desert Sun reported that the family who planned the small gathering was cooperating with authorities and that no charges have been filed yet.

Fire officials told the publication that the family called 911 after trying to extinguish the blaze themselves. They remained on the scene until firefighters arrived according to the report.

Cal Fire Capt. Bennet Milloy said the blaze remains under investigation.

"Those responsible for starting fires due to negligence or illegal activity can be held financially responsible and criminally responsible," CalFire officials said Sunday.

Milloy said investigators are testing the mechanism used at the family gathering to see if it's considered a "safe and sane" firework.

But he said "safe and sane" pyrotechnic devices are illegal in Yucaipa.

Mother Nature is not fully cooperating with firefighters. Although an excessive heat warning is no longer in effect, a Red Flag warning issued by the National Weather Service is in place through 8 p.m. Wednesday evening. The forecast calls for low humidity and gusty winds up to 55 mph in the windiest locations.

ROAD CLOSURES DUE TO THE FIRE: