RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — Crews made significant progress on Saturday in their efforts to contain a rapidly spreading wildfire in Southern California, known as the Springs Fire, which ignited on Friday morning and led to mandatory evacuations in certain areas. The fire has expanded to cover around 6.3 square miles (about 16 square kilometers) east of Moreno Valley in Riverside County and is currently 45% contained, up from 25% on Friday.
More than a dozen zones in Riverside County remain under mandatory evacuation orders or evacuation warnings, with six zones having had their orders lifted. However, the total number of affected households has not yet been disclosed.
Firefighters are facing challenges from strong winds, with the National Weather Service forecasting gusts ranging from 15 mph to 45 mph (24 kph to 72 kph), making firefighting efforts more complex. In addition, an air quality alert has been issued due to harmful levels of fine particle pollution caused by the smoke from the fire.
Hundreds of personnel are actively engaged in battling the blaze, employing helicopters, fire engines, and water tenders. The fire is situated in a well-populated area of Riverside County, near Moreno Valley, which has a community of approximately 200,000 people. This city is located about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of Riverside and 64 miles (103 kilometers) east of Los Angeles.
More than a dozen zones in Riverside County remain under mandatory evacuation orders or evacuation warnings, with six zones having had their orders lifted. However, the total number of affected households has not yet been disclosed.
Firefighters are facing challenges from strong winds, with the National Weather Service forecasting gusts ranging from 15 mph to 45 mph (24 kph to 72 kph), making firefighting efforts more complex. In addition, an air quality alert has been issued due to harmful levels of fine particle pollution caused by the smoke from the fire.
Hundreds of personnel are actively engaged in battling the blaze, employing helicopters, fire engines, and water tenders. The fire is situated in a well-populated area of Riverside County, near Moreno Valley, which has a community of approximately 200,000 people. This city is located about 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of Riverside and 64 miles (103 kilometers) east of Los Angeles.
