Coachella Valley Brush Fire: Evacuation Warning, Firefighter Injured

THERMAL, CA — Firefighters have halted the forward spread of a brush fire in the Thermal area that grew to 27 acres overnight. One firefighter was hospitalized battling the blaze, with minor injuries, according to reports from the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

Firefighters would remain on the scene throughout the day working on containment, the department reported.

Winds fanned the wildfire that began in the area of Avenue 62 and Jackson Street in Thermal, just before 9:45 p.m., according to the department. The blaze ballooned from 5 to 27 acres as of 6:30 a.m., Cal Fire reported.

An evacuation order was reduced to evacuation warnings and the evacuation center was closed shortly before 9 a.m. Friday.

"Firefighters were able to place control lines around the fire overnight," according to a news release.

The evacuations would remain in place throughout the day as crews work towards full containment, according to a department spokesperson.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

There is no impact on the nearby Coachella Music and Arts Festival in Indio.

This report will be updated as more information is released.