Evacuation Order Lifted As Massive Wildfire Burns in Southern California
Published at(LOS ANGELES) — Overnight weather conditions Saturday night into Sunday helped contain a massive wildfire burning in a basin near a Southern California dam that had forced the evacuations of about 300 homes.
The fire in the Prado Dam Flood Control Basin, which ignited about 6 p.m. local time Saturday, burned 300 acres as of Sunday morning, according to Capt. Mike Mohler of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. But weather overnight improved containment, allowing officials to lift the evacuation order.
#HighwayFire – More incident photos. Firefight continues. Credit: RCOFD Photographer, Tod Sudmeier pic.twitter.com/6Yc3GTe1tG
— CAL FIRE Riverside (@CALFIRERRU) April 19, 2015
Mohler said 800 firefighters worked overnight to contain the fire but struggled to reach it.
Mohler said there had been no injuries or building damage, but he said the fire had come within a half a mile of some homes.
“It’s going to take days, even up to weeks to mop this fire up,” Mohler warned, “Because of those thick fuels and the type of conditions we’re under due to the drought.” The area currently ablaze “hasn’t burned in decades,” Mohler added.
The fire is getting really big #ABC7Eyewitness pic.twitter.com/yfCYSrsuzI
— THANK YOU JUSTIN (@Andreais4real) April 19, 2015
Follow @ABCNewsRadio
Copyright © 2015, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.