What's burning in California: Wolf and Juniper fires among over a dozen in 72 hours
Officials warn that the fiery events of the last three days are a prelude of what is to come over the next few months as the state moves from an usually dry winter and spring into what is expected to be a hot summer and fall. And although the majority of the ongoing fires are in the Southland, crews are also staging in Northern California, where a red flag warning is in effect in several counties through 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Here is the latest information on the current fires burning across the Golden State, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Wolf fire, Riverside County
The fast-growing Wolf fire erupted Sunday afternoon, quickly growing to more than 2,400 acres and forcing evacuations and road closures near Banning.
Fire crews had established 30% containment by 5:45 p.m. Monday. Three hundred fire personnel, four helicopters and 70 engines continued to work to get a handle on the blaze, which began in the area of Old Idyllwild Road and Wolfskill Truck Trail.
Evacuation orders remained in effect for most areas of Banning and Cabazon south of Interstate 10 on Monday. An evacuation shelter for affected households was established at Hemet High School, at 41701 E. Stetson Ave., with an animal evacuation site at 581 S. Grand Ave in San Jacinto.
Juniper fire, Riverside County
The Juniper fire ignited around 11:30 a.m. Monday in an unincorporated mountainous area of Perris, prompting evacuation orders and warnings in the nearby communities of Camelot Hills and Good Hope.
On Monday evening, evacuation orders applied to 633 people and 261 structures, with evacuation warnings affecting another 2,507 people and 1,579 structures, according to a Cal Fire spokesperson.
Fire crews had halted forward progress and reached 30% containment of the 688-acre fire by 5:45 p.m. Monday. Twenty-four engines, two helicopters and a total of 183 firefighting personnel continued to combat the blaze in steep hillside territory. Crews were set to remain on scene overnight and into Tuesday to bolster containment.
A "care and reception center" for affected families was established at Citrus Hill High School, at 18150 Wood Road in Perris.
Lake fire, San Bernardino County
Fire crews reached 40% containment on the 483-acre Lake fire, burning near Silverwood Lake, on Monday evening. The fire ignited around 4 p.m. Saturday near State Highway 173 and Cedar Springs Dam Trail.
An evacuation warning remained in effect in the hillside zones north of Silverwood Lake and south of the community of Lugo, while the Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area remains closed to the public.
Crews stopped the forward spread of the fire on Monday morning and remained focused on strengthening control lines in areas where the fire was still active.
Sims fire, Lassen County
Crews reached 25% containment on the 223-acre Sims fire in Lassen County on Monday evening. The fire ignited around 1:30 p.m. Monday along McAfee Road in Herlong, near Honey Lake and the California-Nevada border. Sixty personnel and one helicopter are assigned to the blaze.
Mindy fire, Riverside County
Fire crews got a strong handle on the 103-acre Mindy fire in a remote area of Riverside County on Monday, prompting the lifting of regional evacuation orders. The brush fire ignited shortly before 4 p.m. Sunday near Decoursey Road and Minday Lane, north of Aguanga. The fire was 80% contained by Monday evening.
Mandalay fire, Riverside County
Fire crews reached 100% containment on the 83-acre Mandalay fire on Monday. The blaze ignited in a brushy area west of Riverside Municipal Airport shortly before 3:30 p.m. Sunday.
Smiley fire, San Bernardino County
Fire crews reached 100% containment on the 83-acre Smiley fire on Monday. The fire started by the intersection of San Timoteo Canyon Road and Smiley Road south of Redlands on Saturday.
Fires under 30 acres
The 26-acre Kenyon fire ignited in Shasta County on Sunday; the 26-acre Quarry fire ignited in San Joaquin County on Monday; the 24-acre Perch fire ignited is Siskiyou County on Monday; the 20-acre Marysville fire ignited in Yuba County on Sunday; the 20-acre Llano fire ignited in San Luis Obispo County on Saturday and is fully contained; and the 19-acre Cable fire ignited in San Bernardino County on Sunday.
Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
3 hours ago
- CBS News
Vacaville grass fire forces mandatory evacuations, at least 1 structure damaged
VACAVILLE — Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for a grass fire that is threatening multiple structures in Vacaville, officials said Tuesday evening. Cal Fire said the fire is burning in the area of Browns Valley Road and Bridge Lane. It has burned around 10 acres with no containment reported. The Solano County Sheriff's Office issued the evacuation order for the area. The scope of the order was not yet clear. At least one structure had caught fire, according to the Vacaville Fire Protection District. It's not yet known what caused the fire. This is a developing story. Check back with CBS Sacramento for more updates.
CBS News
7 hours ago
- CBS News
Riverside County Wolf Fire evacuations still in place; Lake and Juniper fire orders lifted
As temperatures rose and conditions dried over the weekend, residents of Southern California received a swift reminder of fire season as at least seven fires broke out across the Southland, according to Cal Fire. The fires were mostly split between Riverside and San Bernardino counties, burning thousands of acres and forcing evacuations. As of Tuesday afternoon, just the Wolf Fire in Riverside County still had mandatory evacuations in place. Three of the seven were still at 50% or less containment and burned more than 20 acres as of Tuesday. Wolf Fire Located near Banning, the Wolf Fire has burned about 2,414 acres since it started on Sunday afternoon. As of Tuesday, containment was at 30%. Cal Fire said crews were attacking the blaze aggressively from the air and ground. "Steep, rugged terrain, high temperatures and wind remain challenging factors for firefighters," Cal Fire said in a post to X. "Cooler temperatures [Tuesday night], with higher humidity will assist firefighters in constructing and strengthening containment lines." Evacuation orders remained in place in the immediate area. An evacuation map can be found here. According to Cal Fire, three firefighters have been injured while battling the blaze. Juniper Fire The Juniper Fire in Riverside Fire quickly ignited and ballooned up to nearly 700 acres on Monday afternoon. A rapid response by crews to the blaze, which was located in unincorporated Perris, managed to slow the spread. Evacuation orders were issued by 3 p.m. but were rescinded by 9 p.m., Cal Fire said. Containment was at 30% as of Tuesday, as crews continue to strengthen containment lines. Lake Fire San Bernardino County's Lake Fire burned just south of Hesperia in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains starting Saturday afternoon. Evacuation orders were issued quickly and were retracted by Sunday afternoon. As of Tuesday, the blaze covers 483 acres according to Cal Fire, although forward progress has been stopped. It's currently at 50% containment.
Newsweek
12 hours ago
- Newsweek
California Wolf Fire Map Shows Where Blaze Grew Overnight
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. While firefighters have made progress in dousing the Wolf fire burning south of Interstate 10 in Riverside County, the fire has now passed 2,400 acres in size. Newsweek has contacted the Riverside County Fire Department for comment by email. Why It Matters Deadly wildfires battered Southern California in January—with the Palisades and Eaton fires killing dozens, scorching thousands of acres, destroying thousands of buildings and prompting mass evacuations. New fires have recently ignited in Southern California, the largest of which is the Wolf fire. A map from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shows the perimeters of the Wolf fire in Riverside County. A map from the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection shows the perimeters of the Wolf fire in Riverside County. CAL FIRE What to Know The Wolf fire began on Sunday in Riverside County and quickly grew into the largest wildfire currently burning in California. As of 7:50 a.m. Pacific time, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) reported, the Wolf fire had surpassed 2,400 acres in size. On Monday, it was about 1,400 acres. Firefighters have reached 35 percent containment of the blaze, Cal Fire said. The agency has issued dozens of evacuation orders and warnings, urging people to leave immediately amid life-threatening wildfire conditions. Three firefighters were injured battling the flames, but no fatalities have been reported and no structures have been damaged, according to the latest update. Weather conditions are expected to be favorable to firefighters in Southern California on Tuesday night, but red flag warnings remain in place elsewhere in the state and nearby. Red flag warnings, in which critical fire weather is either occurring or imminent, are in place in Utah, Northern California, Nevada and Oregon. Several other wildfires are burning in California—including the Juniper and Mindy fires in Riverside County; the Lake and Cable fires in San Bernardino County; the Sims fire in Lassen County; the Kenyon fire in Shasta County; the Quarry fire in San Joaquin County; the Perch fire in Siskiyou County; and the Marysville fire in Yuba County. All but the Wolf fire are smaller than 1,000 acres in size, and many of the fires are smaller than 100 acres in size. Air quality alerts are in place across parts of Southern California because of the smoke from the wildfires. What People Are Saying The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in its most recent update: "Firefighters continued to aggressively attack the fire from the air and the ground. Steep, rugged terrain, high temperatures and wind remain challenging factors for firefighters. Cooler temperatures tonight, with higher humidity will assist firefighters in constructing and strengthening containment lines." A red flag warning issued by the National Weather Service in Sacramento, California, said: "Lightning can create new fire starts and may combine with gusty outflow winds to cause a fire to rapidly grow in size and intensity." What Happens Next Evacuation orders and warnings remain in place. Residents in affected areas should monitor their local news and fire authorities for the most up-to-date conditions and follow official safety advice.
