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Silver Fire: Gov. Brown declares state of emergency as blaze grows to 18,000 acres

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Late Friday, Gov. Jerry declared a state of emergency in Riverside County as the area of Silver Fire expanded to 18,000 acres.

Earlier in the day, state Sen. Bill Emerson, R-Redlands, whose district includes the area of the fire, sent a letter to the Governor asking for the declaration.

“I have been monitoring the situation closely and understand that Riverside County has declared a local state of emergency and plan to request that an emergency be declared by the state as well,” Emmerson said in a statement. “Given the severe risk to life and property, we must do all we can to protect the health and safety of residents in these communities.”

A state of emergency would allow state funding and resources to flow toward the affected area.

Read the full story about the Silver Fire.

 

Silver fire: Homes burning, 5,000 acres lost, no containment

The Silver fire engulfs a home south of Banning on Wednesday evening. (KTLA / August 7, 2013)

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By Jason Wells and Shelby GradAugust 7, 2013, 6:33 p.m.

A fast-moving brush fire south of Banning has burned more than 5,000 acres, injured one firefighter and destroyed numerous homes and structures.

CalFire reported “multiple structures involved” in the hamlet of Twin Pines. TV footage showed additional homes on fire in nearby Poppet Flats.

Firefighters were dealing with strong westerly winds that are expected to continue until sunset.

The fire was jumping through the rocky desert hillside, overtaking remote homes and other structures that dot the landscape.

There was no estimate on the number of structures destroyed, in part because the fire was spread out over a large area.

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Banning Fire Spreads to More Than 1,500 Acres (+Photos)

Rincon Valley fire captain Fred Leunberger watches as a pine tree torches out on the head of the Yellow fire above Knights Valley, Calif., Wednesday, May 1, 2013. The fire started early Wednesday morning on the rugged border between Napa and Sonoma Counties and roared through tall stands of pine trees. Crews were securing the perimeter of the fire in the afternoon. (AP Photo/Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Kent Porter)

A firefighter puts out the remaining hot spots in the one building that has burned as a result of a brush fire burning in the hills above Banning, Calif., on Wednesday, May 1, 2013. (AP Photo/The Press-Enterprise, Terry Pierson)

The bigger fire, which started in Banning, could spread as far or beyond Cherry Hill, and other communities. It’s already spread more than 1,5000 acres. (Screenshot/Google Maps)

A wind driven vegetation fire eats up timber at the Yellow Jacket Ranch east of Highway 128, early Wednesday May 1, 2013 in Knights Valley, Calif., on the Napa and Sonoma County line. Crews battled two small wildfires on Wednesday in California wine country that were pushed by gusty winds. (AP Photo/The Press Democrat, Kent Porter)

Banning fire: Wildfire in California is spreading rapidly.

The blaze is being called “the Summit fire” and spread to 200 acres in three hours after it broke out around 12:30 p.m. As of 5:50 p.m. the fire had spread to more than 1,5000 acres, according to the Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department.

One home was burned and was threatening about 800 more, fire officials told local newspaper The Press-Enterprise. As of 6 p.m. Western time, the Highland Springs area, which contains 300 mobile homes, is being threatened, as well as nearby homes, Cal Fire/Riverside County Battalion Chief Julie Hutchinson told the enterprise.

At least 425 firefighters were working to gain control of the fast-moving fire, said Jody Hagemann, spokeswoman for the county fire department. Six helicopters and six air tankers were making water drops.

Regina Redfeather and her son raced back to her Banning Bench ranch and tried fighting off flames while gathering belongings. She said the fire came up on the house in 15 minutes.

Other areas affected included the Redlands area, northwest of Banning.

The Redlands Daily Facts reported that residents have been complaining of headaches and aggravated asthma, and youth baseball activities  were canceled.

Winds of 29 mph were driving the fire, and if they continued, the fire could reach communities in Cherry Valley and Beaumont.

Winds advisories estimate gusts could ramp up to 55 miles per hour in the mountain areas and up to 45 miles per hour in the valleys.

Much of Southern California was under red flag warnings for fire danger due to heat, wind and low humidity levels.

In Northern California, firefighters were battling fires fueled by gusty winds in wine country.

In Sonoma County, the Yellow Fire north of Calistoga was less than half contained after burning 125 acres. The Silverado Fire near Yountville, in Napa County, burned an even smaller area and was 75 percent contained.

State fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said neither fire was threatening structures, but the blazes across of California could be an ominous sign.

“Statewide, our fire activity is up over 60 percent of normal,” Berlant said. “It has everything to do with the fact that conditions are so dry, then you add wind, making the perfect conditions for a fire.”

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