18,000 People Evacuated as Silver Fire Spreads

Southern California wildfire threatens thousands of homes

Gov. Brown has declared a state of emergency in response to the Silver Fire.

At least 18,000 Riverside County residents were under mandatory evacuation Friday as Silver Fire south of Banning scorched 18,000 acres, forcing the closure of highway 243.

As of of about 4:30 P.M. PDT on Friday 8/9/2013 the blaze had grown to about 18,000 acres with only 25% containment.

Silver Fire has so far destroyed 26 homes, one commercial building and one outbuilding, and has damaged two other buildings near Banning.  At least 5 fire crews  and one civilian have been injured.

Evacuations

UPDATE 8/9/2013 5:00 P.M.: The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, in cooperation with CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department/OES is lifting the evacuation order for the communities of Snow Creek, Cabazon, Mt. Edna, and Poppet Flats as of 6:00 pm on 08/08/2013.

Only local residents in these effected areas will be allowed to repopulate with an access pass until further notice. Access passes will be issued by the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department starting at 6:00 pm on 08/08/2013. Residents must check in at the distribution center to receive an access pass.

The Riverside Sheriff’s Department will issue a resident an access pass which must be displayed in order to re-enter the evacuated areas. Proper identification will be required showing residency in the affected communities and must be shown at the distribution center. This includes but is not limited to: a California driver’s license/ID card, residency ID card or utility bill (plus photo ID). Special requests will be handled on a case-by-case basis.

Evacuation orders for Twin Pines and Silent Valley R.V. Park remain closed due to safety concerns and the ongoing fire operations.  [Riverside County Fire Department ]

=======

Silver Fire Incident Information
Last Updated: August 9, 2013 4:30 pm
Date/Time Started: August 7, 2013 2:05 pm
Total Fire Personnel: 2,106
Total Fire Engines: 201
Total Fire crews: 63
Total Helicopters: 8
Total Dozers: 16
Total Water Tenders: 18

Related Links

• Silver Fire Burns 14,000 Acres, Destroys 26 Homes August 9, 2013

Silver Fire Burns 14,000 Acres, Destroys 26 Homes

Silver Fire: 14,000 Acres Burned; Additional Evacuations Ordered

The Silver fire started at about 2:00pm PDT on Wednesday (UTC -7 hrs.) near Highway 243, south of Banning, and quickly spread, consuming at least 5,000 acres in less than 4 hours.

• As of 9:30 pm PDT on August 8, 2013 , the fire had grown to 14,000 acres (20% contained), destroying at least 26 residences and one commercial building in Twin Pines, and nearby Poppet Flats.

• At least 1,500 people were evacuated as of posting.

• Some 1,450 fire crews have been deployed to contain the fire.

=====

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS

Evacuation Orders remain in effect for the communities of Vista Grande, Mt. Edna, Poppet Flats, Twin Pines, Silent Valley as well as portions of Cabazon – Peach Street, Plum Street, Eucalyptus Street, and Riza Avenue, Ida Avenue, Helen Avenue East to Elm Street. Black Mountain and Boulder Basin Campgrounds as well as Black Mountain Fire lookout have been closed by the Forest Service. Evacuation order in effect in lower Cabazon and Snow Creek Village. [Cal Fire]

UPDATE 3:07 P.M. (August 8, 2013) –  The fire is now estimated at 11,000 acres, still 10% contained.  The fire is actively burning in the San Jacinto wilderness.
here have been a total of four firefighters injured (unknown extent) and one civilian. [Riverside County Fire Department]

• There have been a total of four firefighters injured (unknown extent) and one civilian.

UPDATE 8/8/2013 7:00 A.M.: THE FIRE IS NOW ESTIMATED AT 10,000 ACRES WITH 0% CONTAINMENT. ALL EVACUATION ORDERS REMAIN IN PLACE FOR POPPET FLATS, SILENT VALLEY, TWIN PINES, TWIN PINES RANCH, VISTA GRANDE, MT. EDNA AND THE EXTREME SOUTH END OF CABAZON (PEACH STREET, PLUM STREET, EUCALYPTUS STREET, RIZA STREET, IDA AVENUE AND HELEN AVENUE EAST TO EAST TO ELM STREET)

Incident Statistics (Riverside County Fire Department News)
Statistics for the week of 7/29/2013 to 8/4/2013

• Fire: 271
• Medical Emergency: 1,937
• Haz Mats/FMS: 38
• Misc: 151

• 2013 YTD Total: 78,900
• 2012 YTD Total: 76,511
• As of August 4, 2013, Riverside County incidents have increased 3.12% from last year.