Watch CBS News

Summit Fire Now 40 Percent Contained

BANNING (CBSLA.com) — A fast-moving, wind-driven brush fire in Riverside County was 40 percent contained as of early Thursday morning, CAL Fire officials said.

The Summit Fire broke out around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday near North San Gorgonio Road and Summit Drive in Banning.

Crews  fought the nearly 3,000-acre fire overnight and were aided by diminished winds that allowed them to lay containment lines around the blaze.

New crews, including an additional firefighting aircraft and 200 fresh firefighters began tackling the blaze at 7 a.m.

More than 400 firefighters from Riverside County, the Coachella Valley and other Southern California cities, along with several aircraft have responded to fight the brush fire.

Several communities were evacuated Wednesday and one home was engulfed by the flames.

"We've done a really good job on the rest of them, protecting those homes, pushing it around the communities," CAL Fire Batt. Chief Julie Hutchinson said.

Two firefighters have been injured in the blaze. The first was reported injured Wednesday.

"It was not a serious injury, so he is doing okay and we're grateful for that. Luckily there were no civilian injuries reported," Hutchinson said.

PHOTO GALLERY: Summit Fire

The condition of the second firefighter is unknown.

An evacuation center was opened at the Banning Community Services Center, located at 789 N. San Gorgonio Avenue.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for the area due to potentially unhealthy quality levels.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.