PALMER FIRE: 3,800 Acres Charred In Fireworks-Sparked Blaze, Evacuations Lifted [VIDEO, PHOTOS]

CALIMESA, CA — A brush fire sparked in the Beaumont/Calimesa area this Labor Day Weekend has burned an estimated 3,800 acres while coming perilously close to several homes. The Palmer Fire, as it has been dubbed, was sparked by some people playing with fireworks around 1:30 p.m. Saturday, the Riverside County Fire Department says.

As of Sunday evening, the fire was 35 percent contained. Approximately 100 homes which had been under evacuation orders, affecting approximately 450 residents, are no longer under evacuation orders. All roads were also back open to through traffic.

At the morning briefing for the incident Sunday, fire officials talked about the strong and dangerous winds they anticipated. Approximately 450 fire personnel were assigned to the incident.

The fire was sparked in the area of San Timoteo Canyon Road, just north of Palmer Avenue, according to fire officials. The winds initially blew it towards Beaumont, but then shifted and sent flames towards Calimesa and Redlands. Fire officials say that the blaze has only burned in Riverside County so far.

No homes have burned, but an outbuilding on one property did get destroyed in the fire, according to fire officials.

Along Live Oak Canyon Road, a line of red fire retardant was visible Sunday morning. Area houses and cars were blanketed with the stuff — which clearly helped keep several structures from burning down.

Smoldering brush was still visible along many areas.

"Today there are people in Redlands and along Live Oak Canyon that are lucky because their houses are saved," Cal Fire Riverside County Chief John Hawkins on Sunday. "Partly because they did the brush clearance...but a great deal because of what we did, and I'm very proud of that."

As the fire broke out, the California Highway Patrol said flames were "moving fast" and closed the eastbound lanes of San Timoteo Canyon Road at Live Oak, along the evacuation area. The blaze was being fueled by high temperatures and wind gusts blowing up to 35 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

An evacuation center was temporarily set up for residents displaced by the fire at the Redlands Community Center, 111 West Lugonia Ave. An evacuation center for large and small animals was set up at the Yucaipa Equestrian Center, 13273 California St. at G Street.

SEE PREVIOUS:

Palmer Fire: Beaumont Blaze Balloons To 3,300 Acres; 450 Evacuated; Cause Determined (UPDATE)

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Patch photos by Renee Schiavone