The Bonita Fire is 100% contained.
The newspaper contacted the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) after receiving a response from Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department that the cause was under investigation by the USFS.
As of Feb. 2, the newspaper was told by USFS there was nothing regarding an update that week and maybe we would want to ask the following week. The newspaper has not received an update as of press time.
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 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 grew to a total of 715 acres.
The fire forced the evacuation of Mountain Center and road closures at Morris Ranch Road and Borco Street on Highway 74 and Highway 243 at Saunders Meadow Road within hours of the fire igniting. All road closures and evacuations were lifted by 6 p.m. the same day.
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.”
Residents were directed to visit https://rivcoready.org/ActiveEvents, for updated evacuation information. Visit https://www.readyforwildfire.org/, for tips on preparing for a wildfire.