Community Corner

UPDATE: Fire NE of Banning Grows to 2,372 Acres, Estimate 30 Percent Contained

Wednesday update:  Click here to follow updates on the Hathaway Fire posted Wednesday, June 12.

Update 8:49 p.m. 
The Hathaway Fire northeast of Banning was re-mapped Tuesday at 2,372 acres burned and containment estimates were increased to 30 percent, fire commanders in Beaumont announced at 8 p.m. June 11.

Personnel on the blaze in the rugged San Gorgonio Wilderness was also increased to 1,385, with the vast majority assigned to firefighting duties. Four firefighters have been injured since the blaze started before noon Sunday on the Morongo Indian Reservation.

Full containment of the fire is expected in two weeks' time, on Tuesday June 25, according to the Forest Service and other agency commanders.

"
Firefighters will continue to work through the night, continuing to construct fireline around the fire's perimeter going directly against the fire's edge where possible," fire commanders said in a statement. "A specially trained night flying air attack will be flying over the fire tonight informing firefighters on the ground about the fire activity."

The overnight weather forecast calls for mostly clear skis with a low temperature around 64. Maximum overnight humidities are expected around 45 percent.

Slope winds will be out of the west at 10 miles per hour with gusts to 25 mph, according to forecasters. Ridge top winds are expected out of the west, 15 mph and gusty.

As of Tuesday morning, the cost of fighting the blaze was re-calculated to $800,000. The cost estimate was not updated Tuesday evening.

Update 3:29 p.m.
The Hathaway Fire continued burning fresh fuel in mountains northeast of Banning Tuesday afternoon as winds blowing east pushed flames on ridges and sent smoke toward Highway 62.

"We still have a wildfire no question," Bob Poole of the U.S. Forest Service said in a phone interview at 2 p.m. June 11. "The winds are blowing that way and they're getting smoke in Morongo Valley today. Access to the fire is our big problem."

Investigators have ruled out lightning as the cause of the fire, which broke out before noon Sunday June 9 on the Morongo Indian Reservation, Poole said. But every other possibility remained under consideration.

"Lightning's been ruled out but nothing else has," Poole said. "Everybody wants to know. But they're still investigating."

Skycrane pilots were using tanks to take on water again Tuesday afternoon just north of Morongo Casino Resort & Spa. An Apple Valley flight crew support team was near the tanks, and a supervisor said they were there to coordinate communications with pilots and ground support.

Poole said he did not expect an update on acreage burned by the Hathaway Fire until 6 p.m. Tuesday. As of 8 a.m. June 11, the fire had burned more than 1,950 acres, fire commanders estimated.

Posted 10:44 a.m. The Hathaway Fire burning in mountains northeast of Banning grew overnight to more than 1,950 acres, Forest Service and other unified command officials said in an update at 8 a.m. Tuesday June 11.

There were just over 1,000 personnel assigned to the blaze, a roughly 30 percent increase since Monday evening, including 10 helicopters and six air tankers. Three firefighters had sustained minor injuries as of Monday evening.

Overnight Monday into Tuesday, crews working from remote spike camps made progress building fire lines, fire officials said.

Hot shot crews assigned to the fire include Mill Creek Hot Shots based at State Route 38 and Bryant Street at the Mentone-Yucaipa border, and Vista Grande Hot Shots from Highway 243 between Poppet Flats and Pine Cove.

Wind speeds Tuesday were forecast around 25 miles per hour from the west, with high temps in the upper 80s. Humidity levels were expected around 15 percent.

"High pressure will begin to rebuild in the area today, bringing warmer temperatures," fire officials said.

The fire was considered 25 contained and the cost of fighting the blaze was re-calculated overnight to $800,000.

To read Banning-Beaumont Patch coverage of the fire from Monday and Sunday click the following links:

UPDATE: Mountain Blaze NE of Banning Estimated 1650 Acres, 25 Pct Contained

Beaumont's 'Movies Under the Stars' Canceled Due to Hathaway Fire Near Banning

UPDATE: Fire NE of Banning Grows to 1,500 Acres, Concern for 'Significant Growth Potential'

Banning Woman with Family on Morongo Reservation: 'My Rez is on Fire'

Fire NE of Banning Grows to 1,300 Acres, Smoke and Aircraft Visible in Redlands

There are no evacuations or road closures, but there are concerns for cabins, emergency communications and watersheds, San Bernardino National Forest spokesman Chon Bribiescas said Monday.

"There are some threats," Bribiescas said. "There are some cabins in Raywood Flats. Up on top of Snow Peak there are repeaters and there's comm towers. All that is very expensive equipment, vital for communications at different levels. So right now we've got strike teams up there.

"The fire's made a run at the towers already," Bribiescas said. "There hasn't been damage to any of the towers. They're still functioning.

"In addition the city of Banning has a vested interest because of the watershed," Bribiescas said. "It's mainly Banning that has the water concern. It's the flume and the watershed that are at risk."

Residents who can see the smoke should pay attention to wind direction and remain aware of the smoke, Bribiescas said.

The fire started shortly before noon Sunday June 9 on the north edge of the Morongo Reservation. The cause was under investigation.

Agencies on the fire include the U.S. Forest Service, Cal-Fire Riverside County, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, and Morongo Tribal Bureau of Indian Affairs.


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