Bonita Fire: Evacuation Orders Lifted As Containment Jumps To 20%
MOUNTAIN CENTER (CBSLA) — Crews were able to stop the forward progress of a 715-acre wildfire burning near Mountain Center Friday, allowing authorities to lift evacuation orders and reopen roads in the area.
The Bonita Fire was initially reported at about 1:15 a.m. in the 28000 block of Bonita Vista Road, one mile east of the junction for Highways 74 and 243, the Riverside County Fire Department said.
Easterly winds pushed the flames to the southwest, threatening the community of Mountain Center and prompting evacuations. As of 6 p.m. Friday, all orders were lifted and residents were able to return to their homes.
At nightfall, the blaze was 20% contained after more than 200 firefighters from several agencies, including the Riverside Fire Department, descended on the scene earlier in the day to battle the blaze.
There were no injuries reported as a result of the fire. Officials said the cause of the fire remained under investigation.
This is the second major fire to break out in the region. On Thursday, the Erbes Fire erupted in Thousand Oaks, also forcing evacuations. Forward progress on that blaze has been stopped and evacuation orders were lifted.