Redlands Brush Engine Crew Sent to Aguanga Fire South of Idyllwild

A Redlands Fire brush egine crew was sent to the 3,000-acre Buck Fire early Wednesday on the south side of the San Jacinto Mountains, a battalion chief said.

Brush Engine 261 was en route to join a strike team as of 4:10 a.m. Wednesday, according to Redlands Fire Battalion Chief Scott MacDonald.

The fire, which broke out in rural Aguanga just before 1 p.m. Tuesday Aug. 14, had destroyed at least one home and three other structures and it was considered 15 percent contained as of 8:05 a.m. Wednesday, according to Cal Fire.

On Tuesday, two firefighters sustained minor injuries and one civilian was seriously burned, according to Cal Fire.

Evacuations remained in effect Wednesday morning for some residents north and northeast of the fire, and an evacuation center was set up in Temecula, according to Cal Fire.

Firefighters with the were among about 400 firefighters assigned to the blaze, and there was concern the fire could reach forest lands north of Aguanga and Lake Riverside.

Aguanga is about 40 miles south of Beaumont, 20 miles southwest of Idyllwild, and 20 miles east of Temecula.

To read Temecula Patch and Murrieta Patch coverage of the Buck Fire and view more Patch user photos, click here and here.

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