The Springs fire, which ripped through more than 4,000 acres in the Moreno Valley area on Friday and forced mass evacuations, was 45% contained by Saturday morning, fire officials announced.
The fire, driven by Santa Ana winds, threatened homes and businesses through most of the day on Friday. Some hot spots behind homes at the foot of the mountains in the Championship Drive and Ryder Way area flared up in the evening, according to Watch Duty, a nonprofit app that tracks wildfires.
But the wind died down later Friday night and into Saturday morning, allowing firefighters to make progress on the 4,176-acre blaze, though steep terrain in areas surrounding some neighborhoods presented challenges.
“Crews and aircraft worked throughout the night cutting line, laying hose, and dropping water & retardant on the active fire perimeter,” Watch Duty reported. “Hand crews and firefighters will continue working throughout the day to build and strengthen containment lines.”
Containment is an area beyond which a fire is not expected to spread.
Some evacuation orders have been rescinded.
So far, no injuries or damage to buildings have been reported.
Winds are expected to build again on Saturday, forecasters said, with gusts of 15-30 mph or more, before calming down in the afternoon.
At the Lake Perris State Recreation Area, some 1,500 visitors were evacuated on Friday, Superintendent John Rowe said.
The campground, with 431 sites, was expected to be full for Easter weekend, but most people had not arrived to check in when the evacuation order was given. Only 50 sites were occupied, he said.
“We will remain closed on Saturday as Cal Fire has asked (that the area) be secure since they will be mopping up hot spots for the next 24 hours,” Rowe said. “The fire also damaged some utility vaults and we utility crews need some time to make repairs. Overall damage was limited to our horse camp, and a radio repeater station and utility vault.
“We are hopeful we can reopen Easter Sunday morning,” he said.
The cause of the fire, which started in the 15000 Block of Gilman Springs Road, is unknown and remains under investigation.
Staff writer Brian Rokos contributed to this report.
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Springs fire burns 4,000+ acres in Moreno Valley area as residents flee; crews gain 25% containment