BANNING, Calif. — Firefighters continued to make progress overnight battling Southern California’s latest destructive wildfire, which has burned 26 homes and threatened more than 500 others in the San Jacinto Mountains.
Riverside County Fire Department’s Jeff La Russo said fire officials expect to fully contain the blaze, which has so far scorched more than 30 square miles, by sometime Monday.
The Silver Fire charred roughly 19,430 acres and is 75 percent contained. The fire stopped advancing Saturday night as firefighters began focusing on extinguishing hot spots.
The wildfire has injured at least 10 firefighters and seriously burned a mountain biker who was overrun by the fast-moving flames shortly after the blaze erupted Wednesday.
Evacuation orders for several communities remain in effect. Governor Jerry Brown declared an emergency for the area Friday, freeing up additional resources for the firefighting and recovery.