Crews Make Progress On 553-Acre Brush Fire Near Riverside County

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — Firefighters made progress Thursday on a large brush fire that broke out late Wednesday morning in Holy Jim Canyon in the Cleveland National Forest, just west of Lake Elsinore and Corona.

As of Thursday night, the blaze, dubbed the Jim fire, was mapped at 553 acres with 50 percent containment, fire officials announced.

Air tankers dropped fire retardant Thursday along the fire's edge as ground crews constructed containment lines. Helicopters assisted firefighters with water drops, putting out hotspots within the interior of the burn, according to officials.

A winter storm is expected to bring rain and snow to the area starting late Thursday night, according to the National Weather Service.

The blaze ignited just after 11:15 a.m. Wednesday and burned through open-space chaparral, according to the national forest spokesperson Nathan Judy.

The blaze started in a drainage bottom in Holy Jim Canyon and spread uphill to Santiago Peak, quickly consuming approximately 400 acres, according to fire officials. The area is near the Riverside-Orange County line. The Holy Jim Trail stretches from eastern Orange County to Corona in Riverside County.

SEE: 11 Photos Show Impact Of Jim Fire In Cleveland National Forest

The blaze was burning near the Holy Jim burn scar area. In 2018, over 23,000 acres were scorched by the fire. The remote area is known for its steep terrain and wind.

When the blaze broke out, a massive smoke plume was visible across Riverside and Orange counties.

Orange County Fire Authority, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department and other agencies joined the forest service in the firefight that was being waged from the ground and air. Over 100 personnel were assigned to the blaze Wednesday afternoon, according to Cleveland National Forest officials.

"The fire is not a threat to Orange County," the Orange County Fire Authority reported. "This is a good reminder for everyone to do their part and help prevent brush fires."

City officials in Riverside County issued similar statements.

No homes in Orange or Riverside counties were immediately threatened and no injuries were reported. Photos from Alert Wildfire showed the blaze was threatening radio and cell towers on Santiago Peak.

The cause of the fire is under investigation by Forest Service Law Enforcement.

Check back for updates.

Related:

Holy Fire: 23,000 Acres Charred | 2018 report