3 Firefighters, 1 Other Injured In 140-Acre Palm Springs Fire

PALM DESERT, CA — Nearly 100 firefighters were mopping up hot spots and building containment lines Wednesday at the scene of a brush fire that charred 140 acres near the late Bob Hope's former home in Palm Springs and sent three firefighters to the hospital suffering from heat exhaustion.

Four people were reported injured in total, including the three firefighters who have since been released from the hospital, stemming from the fire that began blazing Tuesday afternoon in the southern hills of Palm Springs, said Palm Springs Fire Department Capt. Nathan Gunkel.

No structures were threatened, and the blaze's forward rate of progress was halted, Gunkel said. The blaze was 50% contained as of 4:30 p.m.

The fire broke out around 4:30 p.m. in the hills south of Murray Canyon Drive and Toledo Avenue, south of the Hope home on Southridge Drive, in an area with "very difficult access."

Firefighters from multiple agencies worked to reduce the flames by about 9 p.m., with help from three fixed-wing aircraft and three helicopters dumping water and retardant. A knockdown was called about 10:30 p.m., the department said.

Fire crews worked throughout the night to prevent hot spots from flaring up, an effort Gunkel said would continue throughout Wednesday and possibly into the evening.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, although a homeless man located in the area was questioned.

Gunkel cited the lack of electrical equipment in the area, or reports of lightening, as reasons to consider the blaze "suspicious."

Three firefighters suffered heat exhaustion and were transported to a local hospital by ambulance, Gunkel said. A hiker also inhaled smoke, but did not require hospitalization, he said.

The fire charred 100 acres belonging to the Bureau of Land Management, with another 40 owned by the city of Palm Springs, according to Gunkel.