What to Know
- The brush fire broke out Saturday in above-average temps and gusty conditions.
- A smoke advisory was issued in the area due to heavy smoke and ash billowing from the blaze.
- Investigators say the fire was sparked by fireworks.
Evacuated residents were allowed back home Sunday afternoon, and roads were reopened, as firefighters on Monday continued efforts to clear a ring of cleared space around a brushfire in the foothills west of Calimesa.
The 3,800-acre Palmer Fire ignited Saturday, and soon after mandatory evacuations were ordered west of Calimesa and Beaumont, near the junction of the 10 and 60 freeways. Investigators determined it was sparked by fireworks.
By 8:30 a.m., the blaze was 50 percent contained with firefighters focused on putting out scattered hot spots. A spokesweoman for the Riverside County Fire Department said they expected to complete their fire lines Monday. By around 10 a.m. Tuesday, containment had reached 90 percent.
About 300 firefighters, assisted by two water-dropping helicopters and bulldozers, remained assigned to the blaze near San Timoteo Canyon Road and Fisherman's Retreat.
The fire was first reported at 1:33 p.m. Saturday.
Residents living on Live Oak Canyon Road between San Timoteo Canyon Road and Interstate 10 in Redlands were ordered to evacuate about two hours later. Firefighters in San Bernardino and Riverside counties evacuated about 450 residents at the peak of the blaze, she said.
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The Palmer Fire was fueled by above-average temperatures and westerly wind gusts blowing up to 35 mph on Saturday. The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory through this morning for the San Jacinto Valley, the Perris Valley and the Riverside metro area.
