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

Thursday update: Click here to follow updates on the Hathaway Fire posted Thursday, June 13.

Update 8:03 p.m. The Hathaway Fire burning in mountains northeast of Banning had scorched 3,130 acres as of 8 p.m. Wednesday June 12, and fire commanders in Beaumont said it was considered 40 percent contained.

There were 1,430 personnel assigned to the fire, which was burning in steep, rugged terrain in the San Gorgonio Wilderness north of Morongo Indian Reservation, according to unified commanders.

"Firefighters worked throughout the day, continuing to construct fire line around the fire's perimeter," commanders said in an update. "Line construction was nearly completed on the West and Southern flanks of the fire. The North and East flanks of the fire will be the areas of concentration during tonight’s operational period."

Gusty southwest winds were expected to continue through late Wednesday, then weaken overnight and shift to a west to northwest direction, according to forecasters assigned to the fire. Relative humidity recovery was expected to be poor to moderate at higher elevations.

Update 6:38 p.m. A wind advisory issued Wednesday afternoon for the San Gorgonio Pass includes the Hathaway Fire burning northeast of Banning and warns of potential for gusts to 45 miles per hour through late Wednesday or early Thursday.

"Gusty west winds through and below the Banning Pass late this afternoon through late tonight," the National Weather Service advisory stated. "A trough of low pressure will move inland across Southern California this afternoon and tonight . . . bringing gusty west winds to the Coachella Valley . . . mainly through and below the Banning Pass as well as areas north of Interstate 10."

The winds were expected to diminish overnight, according to the Weather Service. The wind advisory was in effect through 3 a.m. Thursday June 13.

Update 5:23 p.m. The heli-tank site set up for chopper pilots to take on water and retardant just north of Morongo Casino to fight the Hathaway Fire has proved so popular tribal security has temporarily banned parking in some areas near the site.

Stephanie Drake-Brown, from Fort Washington, Md., and Sonia King, Odenton, Md., stopped Tuesday afternoon to take photos and video. They said they'd never seen military surplus helicopters used to fight fires.

"We're military brats, Army, we grew up in Fort Meade, Maryland, and we've never seen anything like this," King said, raising her voice above the racket raised by aircraft passing overhead.

"That's why we pulled over," Drake-Brown said. "It's amazing. We thought, 'What are they doing?' This has been going a few days. We're staying in Palm Springs and we heard about it."

The Forest Service, seeking to take advantage of the audience, set up an information board Wednesday in an effort to educate people about firefighting efforts and the fire season so far in 2013. The board includes a map of the fire and information about Skycrane helicopters.

Update 4:33 p.m. Ridge-top winds were pushing smoke from the Hathaway Fire east-northeast Wednesday afternoon but it was hazier in Banning, Beaumont and the rest of the west Pass area compared to Tuesday.

"Right now the fire behavior is active in some areas, but we are getting the upper hand on containment," Chris Gaulding, a San Bernardino National Forest fire prevention officer said around 3:30 p.m. June 12 at the heli tank spot just north of Morongo Casino.

"The containment number we have is still 30 percent, and that could change this evening," Gaulding said. "Right now the winds are constantly changing direction. There's some areas being impacted hard out in the desert communities. We also have a lot of low cloud cover today, and it's hard to tell the smoke from the clouds in some areas."

Acreage burned by the Hathaway Fire remained estimated at 2,850 acres.

Posted 9:43 a.m. The Hathaway Fire burning in mountains northeast of Banning grew overnight to an estimated 2,850 acres, Forest Service and other unified command officials said in an update at 8 a.m. Wednesday June 12.

Four firefighters had sustained minor injuries as of Wednesday morning. One structure, described as an outbuilding at Snow Peak, has been destroyed.

Personnel assigned to the fire as of Wednesday morning shifted to 1,183, supported by six tanker planes and six helicopters. The fire continued burning heavy chaparral and timber impacted by drought and bug kill on steep, rugged terrain in the San Gorgonio Wilderness.

The Hathaway Fire was considered 30 percent contained, but full containment is not expected until June 25.

A perimeter to contain the west side of the fire was described as "complete" in morning update. Firefighters and aircraft will focus on the east and northeast sides of the fire through Wednesday.

West to southwest winds of 10 to 15 miles per hour were expected Wednesday afternoon, gusting to 35 mph on ridge tops. Afternoon highs are forecast near 86, with humidity around 15 percent.

Vivian Creek Trail, northwest of the fire on the flanks of San Gorgonio Mountain, is closed. The rest of the San Gorgornio Wilderness remained open. Forest Service officials advised other trails and communities including Pioneertown, Morongo Valley and Yucca Valley could be impacted by smoke.

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

To read previous Banning-Beaumont Patch coverage fire click the following links:

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.