UPDATE: Wind-Driven Fire Damages Home + Chars 3 Acres in Cherry Valley

Update 3:51 p.m. A wind-driven fire that may have started from a barbecue severely damaged a home and scorched three acres Saturday on Avenida Miravilla in Cherry Valley.

The fire was first reported at 12:59 p.m. in the 9500 block of Avenida Miravilla, Melody Hendrickson of Cal Fire-Riverside County said, correcting her initial reports.

The homeowner, Gerald G. Safford, 79, arrived after the fire was contained and heard from Calimesa police the fire may have started from someone barbecuing in breezy conditions.

The fire spread rapidly in 15 mph winds and charred an estimated three acres, Incident Commander Jeff Stowells said at the scene, emphasizing the cause of the fire was still under investigation.

Aircraft were called out but more than 70 firefighters on the ground managed to knock down active flames before helicopters or tanker planes arrived, Stowells said in an interview.

The structure fire was contained to the attic and garage at approximately 2:20 pm., Hendrickson said.

Two structures were considered threatened when fire crews first arrived. No injuries were reported.

Update 1:41 p.m. Firefighters are on scene of a vegetation fire with two structures threatened in the 9500 block of Avenida Miravilla, a Cal Fire spokeswoman said.

The fire was reported at 1:31 p.m., Melody Hendrickson of Cal Fire-Riverside County said.

More than 70 firefighters were assigned, Hendrickson said.

Posted 1:36 p.m. A vegetation fire was reported Saturday afternoon in Cherry Valley, a Cal Fire spokeswoman said.

Stay with Banning-Beaumont Patch for details.