El Dorado Fire Destroys 4 Homes, 6 Outbuildings

INLAND EMPIRE, CA — According to a Thursday night update from Cal Fire, the 13,592-acre El Dorado Fire was 31 percent contained, and some evacuation orders were lifted, but the blaze continues to threaten.

Four homes have been lost in the fire, and two were damaged. Six outbuildings have been destroyed, and four damaged, according to fire officials.

Evacuation orders:

- Yucaipa Area - Areas West of Bryant, North of Carter, East of Jeffreys / Cherry Croft between Carter and Oak Glen Road, then North of Oak Glen Road from Chery Croft to Canyon, then East of Canyon Drive from Oak Glen Road to Wildwood Canyon Drive, and areas North of Wildwood Canyon Drive from Canyon Drive to the junction with Oak Glen Road.

- Oak Glen remains under partial evacuation orders

-All residents located east of Bryant street on Highway 38 including Mountain Home, Forest Falls, Angelus Oaks, 7 Oaks and Jenks Lake Area East to Onyx Summit. (Angelus Oaks and Seven Oaks residents were required to drive north to Big Bear, because Highway 38 was impacted by fire. Rock slides are also being reported along Highway 38 where the fire has loosened rocks.)

"You should gather your belongings, pets, important papers and photos, computer or devices, credit/cash, and medications, and leave your homes now," fire officials told those under evacuation orders.

Evacuation warnings (these are voluntary, but residents should be prepared to leave at any time, officials said):
- North of Carter, West of Bryant, South of Highway 38, East of Garnet. Those who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock should leave immediately.

The San Bernardino National Forest remains closed.

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. All residents can view command center updates here.

More than 1,200 personnel are assigned to the fire fight.

Cal Fire officials said the brusher was sparked around 10:30 a.m. Saturday by a smoke-emitting firework used at a gender-reveal gathering of family members at El Dorado Ranch Park in Yucaipa.

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:

- Highway 38 between Bryant St. in Yucaipa and Onyx Summit.
- Bryant Street Between Hwy 38 and Carter Street.
- Oak Glen Rd. between Pine Bench Rd. and Cherry Croft Dr.
- Cross Streets East of Bryant Street Between Yucaipa Blvd. and Highway 38.
- Wildwood Canyon Drive between Mesa Grande and Oak Glen Road.

There was a soft closure on Highway 38 at Lake Williams Dr. (south of Big Bear) to warn drivers of the closure at Onyx Summit.