Southern California Springs Fire Reaches 45% Containment as Winds Die Down

The Springs Fire, which exploded from roughly 50 acres to more than 4,100 acres within hours of igniting Friday morning near Moreno Valley, reached 45% containment Saturday as diminishing winds gave firefighting crews an opening to gain ground on the blaze in Riverside County.

Terra Fernandez, public safety information specialist for the Riverside County Fire Department, credited the improving conditions. "We're feeling confident. The winds have died down so it's assisting us in making more progress," Fernandez said, noting that crews had also worked to build and strengthen containment lines around the fire perimeter.

First reported around 11 a.m. Friday at the 15900 block of Gilman Springs Road and initially estimated at roughly 5 acres, the fire ballooned to 1,500 acres by 1:30 p.m. and burned through 4,176 acres by Friday evening, roughly 6.3 square miles, leaving it only 10% contained. Wind gusts of 55 to 70 mph, driven by Santa Ana winds sweeping across the Inland Empire, fueled the rapid spread through dry grasses, brush, and steep terrain approximately 64 miles east of Los Angeles. Containment climbed to 25% by Friday night before the Saturday morning surge.

That gain was driven in part by aggressive aerial operations. Crews began early Saturday dropping water and fire retardant all around the fire by air, with tankers flying suppression missions from across the state. Though gusts up to 45 mph were still forecast for Saturday, winds had dissipated enough to allow broader progress. Ground resources included 36 engines, two water tenders, two helicopters, two dozers, and seven hand crews, with roughly 260 total personnel deployed. Assisting agencies included the Hemet City, Pechanga, Morongo, Palm Springs, Idyllwild, and Corona fire departments.

Evacuation orders remained active in fewer than a dozen zones within Riverside County by Saturday, with warnings elsewhere lifted. Displaced residents found shelter at Valley View High School at 13135 Nason St. in Moreno Valley, while an animal shelter was established at San Jacinto Animal Shelter. Moreno Valley College, near the fire zone, had closed Friday due to air quality concerns and evacuated all students and staff.

A concurrent brush fire, the Crown Fire, broke out near Acton in northern Los Angeles County Friday at approximately 12:26 p.m. near Crown Valley and Soledad Canyon Road. It reached about 345 acres with 25% containment before all evacuation orders and warnings were lifted by Saturday morning.

The two fires are among the first significant wildfires to hit Southern California following months of heavy rain, illustrating that even unusually wet winters leave the region susceptible once conditions dry and the Santa Ana winds arrive. No injuries were reported from either blaze, and the cause of the Springs Fire remains under investigation.