#ManzanitaFire Day 2: Uncontrolled Blaze Burns Through 5,800 Acres; Evacuation Warnings Expanded; Fire Camp In Beaumont

BEAUMONT, CA — More than a thousand firefighters are now assigned to an uncontrolled wildfire burning south of Beaumont. The blaze, dubbed the Manzanita incident, has now consumed an estimated 5,800 acres as of 1:40 p.m. Tuesday.

Containment is estimated at just 20 percent, while 1,300 firefighters battle the incident. Thanks to some lighter winds overnight, crews were able to make some progress on the incident.

SEE ALSO: Details Released In Crash That Likely Sparked Manzanita Fire Near Beaumont [Photos, Video]

Crews have now set up camp at Noble Creek Park in Beaumont, where officials debriefed personnel at 7 a.m. On the agenda was the attack plan, safety measures and more. Of continuing concern to firefighters on Tuesday were the winds. Meanwhile, safety officials warned crews to stay out of an area with old acid pits, to be on the lookout for possible unexploded ordinance and to look out for downed power lines.

"Also, this is an old Lockheed testing area as well, there could be some possible unexploded ordinances out there...If you see them, mark them and make sure you tell your supervisors," Barry Owens of Cal Fire said during the safety portion of Tuesday's morning briefing at Noble Creek.

As of the morning briefing, containment was estimated at 10 percent, but that number was updated at 9:10 a.m. to 20 percent.

Tuesday's forecast calls for a high temperature around 97 degrees, along with winds from 5 to 10 mph in most places — yet the ridgetops where the blaze is burning could see 20 mph winds with gusts up to 35 mph, according to a weather report provided to fire officials.

Temperatures across Riverside County will begin to lower Tuesday, but the risk of wildfires will remain high.

A National Weather Service red flag warning for the mountains, the San Gorgonio Pass zone, which includes Banning and Desert Hot Springs, and the remainder of the Coachella Valley will remain in effect until 1 a.m. Wednesday. Wind speeds are expected to weaken overnight into Wednesday morning, although dry conditions will persist.

"A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to extreme fire behavior," according to the weather service.

ROAD CLOSURES

After the fire broke out on Monday afternoon, the CHP closed State Route 79 between Beaumont and Gilman Springs Road in both directions. That closure, in the area known as Lambs Canyon, lasted until nearly midnight.

By Tuesday morning, both sides were reopened to traffic.

EVACUATIONS

An evacuation warning was in place for Highland Home Road East to Highway 243, including the communities of Poppet Flats and Silent Valley. A voluntary evacuation also was issued for Death Valley Road, Longhorn Road and Shirleon Drive.

"The Evacuation Warning has expanded to include Highland Home Road, east to Highway 243 including the communities of Poppet Flats, Silent Valley, Mt. Edna and Twin Pines," fire officials said in their 1:40 p.m. update.

There was no evacuation center listed.

Residents in several communities in Riverside and San Bernardino counties appeared to have mistakenly received alerts late Monday night notifying them about fire evacuations and a Cal Fire official said the cause of the alert was under investigation.

The Riverside County Fire Department reported the error on Twitter and said there were no evacuation orders. Riverside city officials also took to Twitter to say that some cellphone users were receiving emergency evacuation alerts and that there alerts were not for Riverside.

Several agencies were assisting the Riverside County Fire Department with their efforts, including: Corona City FD, Murrieta FPD, Riverside City FD, Idyllwild FPD, Palm Springs FD, March Reserve Base FD, San Bernardino County FD, Hemet FD, Riverside County Emergency Management Department.

Read more: #ManzanitaFire: Beaumont Blaze Burns 5,000 Acres, SR-79 Closure Update

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Patch photo by Renee Schiavone / City News Service contributed to this report