UPDATE: Hathaway Fire Burns Fuel Near Whitewater River, Now Estimated 3,596 Acres

Update 10:05 p.m. The Hathaway Fire burning in mountains northeast of Banning consumed fuel in the Whitewater River watershed Friday and generated significant smoke, but it had grown less than 100 acres in the past 24 hours as of 7 p.m. June 14, according to fire commanders in Beaumont.

The mapped estimate for the burned area and active fire was 3,596 acres, and the six-day-old blaze was considered 45 percent contained, Forest Service and other agency officials said in their Friday evening update.

"The fire has made short runs toward the Whitewater River which generated a significant column of smoke this afternoon," commanders said. "Smoke has been visible over a wide area however there is no threat to any communities."

Night flying air attack equipped with infrared video was to be utilized Friday night, commanders said. Also overnight, firefighters planned to continue building and improving containment lines.

There were 1,228 personnel assigned to the fire as of 7 p.m. June 14. There have been ten minor injuries to firefighters since the fire broke out Sunday June 9 on the Morongo Indian Reservation. The cause of the fire was said to be under investigation.

One structure described as an out building has been destroyed at the Snow Peak communications site. There was no damage to the communication equipment, fire commanders said.

Posted 11:15 a.m. High temperatures, low humidity and strong winds were expected to be concerns Friday June 14 on the Hathaway Fire burning northeast of Banning in the San Gorgonio Wilderness.

The fire grew by an estimated 40 acres overnight to 3,560 acres as of 7 a.m. Friday and it was still considered 43 percent contained.

There have been 10 firefighters injured on the fire since it broke out Sunday June 9 on the north edge of Morongo Indian Reservation, according to incident commanders in Beaumont. Personnel assigned to fire Friday morning totalled 1,372.

The forecast calls for highs in the 80s, southwest/up canyon winds, with the strongest winds expected Friday afternoon and evening, and afternoon humidities in the teens to mid-twenties.

"Working with the numerous water dropping helicopters is allowing crews to make significant progress in fireline construction operations," incident commanders said in an update. "The use of aircraft also aids firefighters in securing and extinguishing hot spots along the completed fire's edge."

Objectives Friday include continuing fire lines along unsecured edges on the east side of the fire. Crews will also concentrate on improving and monitoring the completed fireline on the west side.

A target date for full containment of the Hathaway Fire has been set for June 25, but incident commander Don Garwood released a letter addressed to the public on Thursday stating "There is no way of knowing exactly when we will finish our work."

The cause of the fire was being investigated.

To read previous Banning-Beaumont Patch coverage of the Hathaway Fire click the following links:

UPDATE: Hathaway Fire NE of Banning Estimated 3,520 Acres, 43 Percent Contained

PHOTO GALLERY: Hathaway Fire Helicopter Pilots Take on Retardant, H20 at Sundown

UPDATE: Hathaway Fire NE of Banning Grows to 3,130 Acres, Estimated 40 Percent Contained

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

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

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. Fire camp remained at Noble Creek Park in Beaumont.