Firefighters halted the progress of a 1,900-acre fire south of Beaumont that spread rapidly for much of Sunday morning, fire authorities in Riverside County said.
#SandersonFire UPDATE
Due to downed power lines and burnt utility poles, Gilman Spgs will remain closed through the night for repair. Continue to use SR-79 and SR-60 or Ramona Expy as a detour. @KESQ @ABC7 @NBCPalmSprings @HeyKitty pic.twitter.com/rNog4XZdGS— CHP – San Gorgonio Pass (@CHP655) December 14, 2020
The wildfire, dubbed the Sanderson fire, was first reported at around 1 a.m. near La Borde Canyon Road and Jack Rabbit Trail, according to the CalFire/Riverside County Fire Department.
The area where the wind-driven fire started is remote, and “firefighters had difficulty accessing the fire due to its location deep into rugged terrain,” fire officials said.
Several retardant dropping air tankers are helping our firefighters on the ground and water dropping helicopters fight the #SandersonFIRE. The wind is spreading the smoke west towards Mead Valley, Corona and Temescal Valley. 🎥:CAL FIRE/RVC FIRE pic.twitter.com/Fup5ZyzIoT
— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) December 13, 2020
Wildland Fire: 1:00 a.m. La Borde Canyon Rd. X Jack Rabbit Trail south of Beaumont. 300 acres, 0% contained. Updates posted on the Sanderson Incident fact sheet: https://t.co/pSmyt9bOvl #SandersonFIRE pic.twitter.com/CwhzIUi8IP
— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) December 13, 2020
The fire exploded from 300 acres early Sunday morning to 1,933 acres by 4 p.m. While the fire continued to burn, firefighters stopped its forward progress by midmorning, fire officials said.
By late afternoon, crews had surrounded 24% of the fire with containment lines.
Some 130 firefighters were assigned to battle the blaze, with water-dropping helicopters and air tankers called in for support.
An evacuation warning was issued for the Moreno Knolls area, affecting fewer than a dozen homes along North Gilman Springs Road and South Timothy Lane. It later was lifted.
No injuries were reported and the cause was under investigation.
SMOKE ADVISORY: #SandersonFire burning south of #Beaumont, near #MorenoValley is affecting air quality in the region: https://t.co/Y158OoPtBX
Información en español: https://t.co/ctPFfWWfN8
South Coast AQMD emite un aviso do humo por el incendio forestal Sanderson pic.twitter.com/VjKdVZ786U— South Coast AQMD (@SouthCoastAQMD) December 13, 2020
Officials in Anaheim, Fullerton and Brea reported that smoke from the Sanderson Fire was visible.
“The FPD communications Center has received numerous 911 calls regarding the smell of smoke and ash in the Fullerton area. There are no fires in Fullerton. The smoke is likely coming from a fire in the City of Beaumont,” Fullerton police tweeted at 11:11 a.m.
“With breezy wind, we are getting smoke from #SandersonFIRE near Beaumont carrying our way, heavy at times. While we should always be alert to smoke, there is no immediate threat to Anaheim,” the city of Anaheim tweeted.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory through Monday afternoon, warning that smoke from the fire was negatively affecting air quality as it moved west.
City News Service contributed to this report.
