Crime & Safety
Brush Fire Blackens 1,300 Acres in Cherry Valley
The blaze was determined by investigators to be the result of human activity .
Updated at 3 p.m. Aug. 31, 2016:
BEAUMONT, CA --A brush fire that erupted near a Cherry Valley park expanded to 1,300 acres today, though crews were close to gaining partial containment of the blaze, which was no longer threatening homes in the area.
The "Bogart Fire" broke out about 12:25 p.m. Tuesday near Winesap Avenue and International Park Road, on the edge of Bogart Park.
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As of 1:30 this afternoon, the brusher was roughly 45 percent contained, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
Investigators believe the blaze was triggered by activity near the entrance to the park and have asked for help identifying the responsible parties. An agency spokeswoman specifically mentioned the possibility of youths lighting matches or engaging in some other form of high-risk behavior.
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The county's arson hotline is (800) 633-2836, and authorities noted that all calls can be placed anonymously.
One firefighter suffered an unspecified injury while on the fire lines Tuesday and was hospitalized but is expected to be fine.
About 400 fire personnel were working to contain the blaze, with crews from Cal Fire, the San Bernardino County Fire Department, Beaumont, the March Air Reserve Base and the Morongo Band of Mission Indians assisting the U.S. Forest Service and Riverside County Fire Department.
They're also 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 Tuesday night.
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.
--City News Service. Images by Kelly Martin
