UPDATE 7:30 A.M., WEDNESDAY, AUG. 28
The Little Fire is now 85 percent contained and its size remains at 97 acres.
Fire crews have made excellent progress on the fire, and have been assisted by the cooler temperatures and higher humidity over the past two days, according to the Forest Service.
Staffing has been reduced to 103 personnel as of Tuesday evening.
UPDATE 1:30 P.M.
The Forest Servcie reports that the Little Fire got further into the Willow drainage than previously thought. Consequently the Fire's size is now estimated to be 100 acres and 50 percent contained.
Lee Beyer, Forest Service information officer, also said that one firefighter has incurred a minor injury.
UPDATE, 10 A.M., SUNDAY, AUG. 25
The Little Fire, near the top of Thomas Mountain in Garner Valley, was held to 50 acres overnight and this morning is 50 percent contained, according to Lee Beyer, Forest Service information officer.
As of this morning, the Forest Service says the fire’s growth potential is low; consequently, the Incident Commander Greg Ross has begun to release fire resources.
The fire is not threatening any homes or structures at this time.
Thomas Mountain Road (6S13) is closed between Highway 74 and the junction with Rouse Ridge 5S15., Cottonwood Truck Trail and Rouse Ridge and Thomas Mountain roads to the south off of Hop Patch Springs remain open.
The fire was reported about 3 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 24. Its cause is still under investigation.
UPDATE 8:15 P.M.
The Little Fire is now about 40 to 50 acres, according to Lee Beyer, Forest Service information officer. Containment is about 10 percent. But the fire is still in steep and rugged terrain.
The fire's "rate of spread has stopped" tonight, he said,"it's slowed down with no further growth," Beyer attributed to the Incident Commander.
More than 200 firefighters have been assigned to the Little Fire, and that includes four air tankers, one air attack, four helicopters, ten engines, and six water tenders
UPDATE 6:15 P.M.
Incident command has released Cal Fire Engine 23 (Pine Cove) and Keenwild Helicopter 535 from the Little Fire.
UPDATE 6:02 P.M.
The Little Fire is at 30 to 40 acres, according to IC Greg Ross. Aircraft are starting to make progress on the fire. The fire is moving at a moderate speed north of the Rouse Ridge turnoff, said U.S. Forest Service Public Information Officer Lee Beyer, so it has slowed down. The smoke column has dissipated a lot in the last hour, Beyer said. Four helicopters and two air tankers from Hemet-Ryan Airfield are on the fire.
UPDATE 5:10 P.M.
The Little Fire has grown to 30 acres. The winds are erratic. A strike team from the Gobbler Fire has been reassigned to this area.
UPDATE 4:45 P.M.
Battalion Chief Greg Ross of the San Jacinto Ranger District is the incident commander for the Little Fire which is now at 20 acres.
UPDATE 4:10 p.m. LIttle Fire
According to the Forest Service, the LIttle Fire is now about 15 to 20 acres.
ORIGINAL POST 3:45 p.m.
A fire , the Little Fire, has been reported near the top of Thomas Mountain in Garner Valley.
It was spreading quickly and response units from the U.S. Forest Service and CAL FIRE were dispatched immediately, including air attack (fix winged and helicopters).
At this time, it is estimated to be about 15 acres.
