Huge Gains Made On Day 3 In Bogart Fire Containment [UPDATE]

CHERRY VALLEY, CA – Containment on day three of the brush fire in Cherry Valley was at 90 percent as of 6 p.m. today -- a major advancement from the 45 percent recorded Wednesday afternoon.

As of tonight, the fire was holding steady at 1,470 acres consumed.

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.

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 are presently 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.

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.

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

Also see:

• Man Arrested In SWAT Standoff After Domestic Incident Was RivCo Sheriff's Deputy
• Motorcyclist Killed In Moreno Valley Was Struck By Truck On I-215

Previous Bogart Fire coverage:

• 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 Jay McDowell