Firefighters have reached 55% containment on the roughly 1,100-acre Dale Fire burning near Highway 371 and Aguanga, Cal Fire announced Saturday morning.
The agency said in a post on social media that firefighters would spend the rest of the day addressing any flare-ups and continuing to work in “heavy vegetation buildup areas of the fire line.”
The fire was first reported burning near Highway 371 and Lugo Road at around 12:35 p.m. Wednesday. It quickly spread to the northeast, growing to nearly its current size by early Thursday afternoon.
On Thursday, firefighters had to contend with two new fires east of the main blaze that were started by lightning strikes. Crews eventually contained those fires, which torched about four acres.
Dale Fire evacuation orders, warnings, structures damaged, destroyed
Several areas were placed under evacuation orders or warnings as a result of the fire. While some orders and warnings have been lifted, a swath of the Cahuilla Reservation extending east from Lake Riverside and Highway 371 remains under an evacuation warning, while a larger swath is under an evacuation order.
As of Saturday morning, one structure was confirmed to have been destroyed while 145 others were described by Cal Fire as “threatened.” No injuries had been reported in the fire.
On Wednesday afternoon, seven Cal Fire air tankers and three water-dropping helicopters initiated runs on the wildfire as it progressed in the direction of Cahuilla Creek Motocross and the Cahuilla Casino Hotel, both south of the 371. They were briefly evacuated but not damaged.
A care and reception center was established at the Anza Community Center, 56630 Highway 371. The Department of Animal Services was accepting evacuated pets at the agency’s San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, 581 S. Grand Ave.
Both sides of the 371 were shut down for public safety Wednesday between the casino turnoff at Homestead Road to the east and Barbara Trail to the west, spanning seven miles. On Thursday morning, the roadway was fully reopened.
The source of the fires that broke out Wednesday was under investigation. The area has been ground zero for a cluster of minor and major wildfires going back three years.
City News Service contributed to this report.
Paul Albani-Burgio covers growth, development and business in the Coachella Valley. Follow him on X at @albaniburgiop and email him at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Dale Fire Saturday update: Blaze near Lake Riverside at 1,100 acres, containment at 55%
Reporting by Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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