Full Containment Of East Anza Brush Fire Expected By Friday

ANZA (CBSLA.com) — A brush fire in East Anza that scorched nearly 450 acres was 95 percent contained Thursday and expected to be fully contained by Friday, authorities said.

The Anza Fire broke out just before noon Monday near the junction of state Routes 74 and 371, after a car fire ignited brush and quickly advanced into the San Bernardino National Forest.

The driver of the vehicle suffered second- and third-degree burns over 3 percent of his body. Three firefighters were also hospitalized with minor injuries, but were back on duty Wednesday, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

At the height of the fire Monday, residents in the area of Paradise Drive, Pimlico Drive and Church Hill Downs were evacuated, but the evacuation order was lifted hours later.

Both directions of the 74 were shut down Monday night between Anza and Palm Desert as a precaution, but the highway was fully reopened late Tuesday morning.

With air tankers, water-dropping helicopters, engine companies, water tender crews, bulldozer operators and hand crews, the county and U.S. Forest Service are working on encircling the fire, now smoldering away from residential areas.

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