Community Corner

Fire NE of Banning Grows to 1,300 Acres, Smoke and Aircraft Visible in Redlands

Reported by Patch Editors Guy McCarthy and Renee Schiavone.

Monday update:  Click here for updates on the Hathaway Fire posted Monday, June 10.

Update 10:50 p.m.: 
The U.S. Forest service reports that the Hathaway fire burning near Banning has spread by about 200 acres since their last update.

According to the agency's official twitter account for the region, the fire is approximately 1,500 acres and is 15 percent containedat this hour.

Update 8:55 p.m.
 The 1,300-acre Hathaway Fire northeast of Banning, which churned up dense clouds of smoke visible from Redlands and Big Bear, was considered 5 percent contained as of 8 p.m. Sunday June 9, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

There were an estimated 400 firefighters assigned to the blaze and a request was in place for more personnel, USFS spokeswoman Carol Underhill said in a phone interview at 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

There were no structures threatened but the fire was consuming dense chaparral and heavy timber in places. Smoke and ash were evident most of Sunday afternoon in the Big Bear area, raising concerns among some residents, Rim of the World News and the Big Bear Grizzly reported.

The fire was reported shortly before noon Sunday in the Hathaway Canyon area on Morongo Indian Reservation land, according to Cal Fire. The cause of the fire was being investigated.

Update 5:45 p.m. 
A fast-moving fire consumed an estimated 1,300 acres in less than six hours Sunday on Morongo Reservation/San Gorgonio Wilderness lands north of Cabazon and northeast of Banning, according to the Forest Service and Cal Fire.

The fire was considered 10 percent contained as of 5:15 p.m. There was concern for "significant growth potential east of Banning," according to Cal Fire. More than 20 additional firefighter crews had been requested as of 5 p.m.

Update 5:10 p.m. 
Fire consumed an estimated 1,0000 acres Sunday on Morongo Reservation/San Gorgonio Wilderness lands north of Cabazon and northeast of Banning, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Smoke was visible in Redlands, and smoke and ash were evident in the Bear Bear Lake area, according to residents.

Update 4:45 p.m. 
Smoke from a 500-acre fire burning north of Cabazon and northeast of Banning in the San Gorgonio Pass was visible Sunday afternoon in Redlands, as were aircraft assigned to fight the fire.

The fire was burning in Hathaway Canyon, on Morongo Reservation/San Gorgonio Wilderness lands, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The Forest Service was working in unified command with Cal Fire-Riverside County.

Posted 3:35 p.m. Smoke from a fire burning north of Cabazon and northeast of Banning in the San Gorgonio Pass was visible Sunday afternoon in Redlands, as were aircraft assigned to fight the fire.

The fire was burning near Potrero Road and Burro Flats Road had burned an estimated 200 acres as of 2:45 p.m. Sunday June 9.

The blaze appeared to be on Morongo Indian Reservation or San Bernardino National Forest lands, accessible for engine crews by roads primarily controlled by the reservation.

In addition to five tanker planes and three helicopters, there were more than 140 firefighters assigned on the ground, according to Cal Firespokesman Mark Annas.

Residents in east Redlands could see smoke from the fire and aircraft responding shortly after noon Sunday.


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