Fire in Banning Burns 280 Acres
Four firefighters were treated for injuries, several homes were threatened and the fire was 70 percent contained on Sunday
NBC Local Media
A brush fire in a small Riverside County city that was sparked by a shooting was 70 percent contained on Sunday, officials said.
Sparks from a bullet ignited the fire that spread to 280 acre as of Sunday evening, officials said. Four firefighters were injured and the fire threatened several homes, though no evacuations had been ordered as of Sunday evening.
At least one of the wounded firefighters had to be plucked out of the fire zone by helicopter and flown to a hospital, the Riverside County Fire Department said in a statement.
The fire, dubbed the Range Fire, had initially been reported at 300 acres, but the figure was downgraded to 280 on by Sunday evening, officials said.
The blaze broke out Saturday after 6 p.m. near Old Banning-Idyllwild Road and Shirleon Drive, officials said.
The fire broke out during a heatwave that is expected to reach triple-digits on Monday and Tuesday. The National Weather Service issued a "red flag" fire alert as temperatures rise and dry tinderbox conditions hit.
About 250 firefighters from 10 agencies battled the blaze from the ground and by air on Sunday.
On Saturday, the blaze destroyed an outbuilding and a few abandoned vehicles, Riverside County officials said.
Banning is a city of 30,000 people in Riverside County.
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