The Bonita Fire is being investigated by the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The cause of the fire has not been released.
Firefighters responded to a wildland fire Friday, Jan. 15 at 1:16 a.m. at the 28000 block of Bonita Vista Drive in Apple Canyon (between Mountain Center and Garner Valley). The fire grew to a total of 715 acres.
According to Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department’s webpage for the incident, “the first arriving engine company reported 15 acres of heavy vegetation and pine trees involved.”
The USFS took over the incident, which had been under the command of Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department, Friday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m., the same day the fire broke out.
The fire forced the evacuation of Mountain Center and road closures on Highway 74 and Highway 243 within hours of the fire igniting. All road closures and evacuations were lifted by 6 p.m. the same day.
Visit https://www.readyforwildfire.org/, for tips on preparing for a wildfire.

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