The Range Fire burning Saturday night, Sept. 29, was near Banning. Photo courtesy of Riverside County Fire Department volunteer photographer Mike Murawski

Saturday evening, Sept. 29, the Range Fire, on the Old Banning Idyllwild Road, at the bottom of the Hill was reported. By Sunday afternoon, the fire had spread to 360 acres.

 

As of Monday evening, Riverside County Fire Department reported the fire was 100 percent contained and controlled Tuesday morning, Oct. 2.

Recreational shooting was the cause of the fire, according to the RCFD release.

The Range Fire started on Bureau of Land Management lands, which was described as “rugged, steep terrain.”

Twenty-five engine companies and more than 250 firefighters battled the blaze. During the containment, five helicopters (including one from Los Angeles County Fire Department) and four air tankers helped to limit the fire’s spread.

Four firefighters suffered minor injuries, none of these was life-threatening.

Among the engine companies responding, Idyllwild Fire Chief Patrick Reitz said, the department sent a Strike Team to the Range Fire. The crew for Brush Engine 621 was Captain Mark LaMont, Engineer Adam Rodriguez and reserve firefighters James LaMont and Vincent Gibby.