Firefighters made significant progress overnight on the Springs Fire after the fast‑moving blaze threatened neighborhoods east of Moreno Valley on Friday.
As of 9 a.m. Saturday, the fire had burned 4,176 acres and was 45% contained, according to Cal Fire. Containment stood at 25% late Friday night as crews battled intense Santa Ana winds that fueled rapid fire growth.
Evacuation orders remained in place for other areas, and residents were urged to continue following official guidance and monitoring updates. An evacuation map is available through Cal Fire.
However, some evacuation orders were lifted Saturday morning, with zones MOE‑0504, MOE‑0505, MOE‑0640, MOE‑0637, MOE‑0745, MOE‑0746, RVC‑0748 and RVC‑0826 no longer under evacuation status, Cal Fire said.
All evacuation warnings were lifted as of about 9 a.m. Saturday.
“The winds sting down last night really helped our firefighters make good progress on the fire, which is why we’re now at 45% containment,” Cal Fire spokeswoman Terra Fernandez told KTLA5 on Saturday morning. “We’re still at 4,176 acres, so we haven’t grown at all, so that’s great. The humidity increasing last night really helped. We are expected to have strong gusts of wind today, but hopefully we can still mitigate that threat and contain the fire.”
Saturday’s plan of attack included early air drops and hand crews working to strengthen containment lines, Fernandez said.
The fire was reported at 11:01 a.m. Friday near Gilman Springs Road, where it quickly spread through “light flashy fuels.” Wind gusts reaching up to 70 mph pushed the fire toward nearby communities Friday evening, creating dangerous conditions for firefighters.
Winds eased overnight, and more favorable weather conditions on Saturday helped crews gain the upper hand. No structures were damaged and no injuries were reported as of Saturday morning.
More than 260 personnel were assigned to the fire, including 36 engines and two helicopters. Assisting agencies included fire departments from Hemet, Riverside, Palm Springs, Idyllwild and Corona, along with Pechanga and Morongo crews.
Springs Fire road closures
Gilman Springs Road: Closed from Alessandro Boulevard to Bridge Street.
Alessandro Road: Closed at Redlands Boulevard.
Bridge Road: Closed at Gilman Springs Road.
Ramona Expressway: Closed at Davis Road.
Springs Fire evacuation orders
Evacuation orders:
MOE-0507, MOE-0641, MOE-0744, MOE-0747, MOE-0823, RVC-0825
An evacuation center was open at Valley View High School, 13135 Nason St. in Moreno Valley. An animal evacuation center was available at the San Jacinto Animal Shelter, 581 S. Grand Ave. in San Jacinto.
What does ‘containment’ mean?
Containment of a fire doesn’t mean a fire has stopped or is almost out. When a fire has been contained, it means that the control line that fire personnel have set—whether it’s a road or a line made by a dozer during active firefighting—no longer has heat. Firefighters determine whether a line has heat using infrared mapping or by walking along the edge of the line to feel for heat, according to Ventura County Fire Department spokesperson Andrew Dowd.
When the fire is declared to be 100% contained, does that mean it is totally out?
No, according to CalFire. The fire might be contained, but now is the time for suppression repair. Fire suppression repair is a series of immediate post-fire actions to repair damages and minimize potential soil erosion and impacts resulting from fire suppression activities. Actions usually start in the burned area once it is safe, especially for extensive fires.
This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Springs Fire near Moreno Valley now 45% contained; evacuations ease
Reporting by James Ward and Daniella Segura, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
