Vegetation Fire Continues To Burn In Apple Valley

APPLE VALLEY (CBSLA.com) — Firefighters Wednesday continued to battle a large vegetation fire that erupted during a controlled burn in Apple Valley.

Shortly before 8:30 a.m., the San Bernardino County Fire Department reported the fire expanded to 185 acres.

Firefighters warned that heavy burning is expected to continue in the riverbed throughout the day.

The blaze was reported at 11:50 a.m. Tuesday, at Mojave Narrows Regional Park.

Authorities initially reported the fire sparked when winds shifted during a controlled burn that was being conducted by San Bernardino County Regional Parks officials.

However, the San Bernardino County Fire Department clarified on twitter that park staff used a burn permit in the area.

Rumor Control: The River Bottom Fire was NOT a controlled burn & not conducted by SBCoFire. Park staff was burning under burn permit. /tm

— SB County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) April 1, 2015

Over 200 personnel, including several strike teams, hand crews, water tenders, helicopters and dozers assisted in the effort to contain the fire.

According to fire officials, the flames destroyed a 30 year old military Humvee, three sheds and a chicken coup in addition to threatening at least 100 structures in the area.

Mandatory evacuations were lifted around 7 p.m. for residents that live along Riverside Drive between Riverside Way and Nokomis in Apple Valley.

No injuries were reported.

At this time, 30 percent of the blaze has been contained.

Full containment is expected by this evening.