Full Containment Expected Oct. 1 For Snow Fire Burning Near Palm Springs

PALM SPRINGS (CNS) – The Snow Fire burning northwest of Palm Springs has blackened 6,254 acres and was 67% percent contained Wednesday morning as firefighters cut additional lines around the perimeter of the flames. #SnowFire EVENING UPDATE 9/22/2020 @ 6:00 p.m. – The fire has burned 6,254 acres and is 67% contained. pic.twitter.com/sjBCaBIMGS — CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) September 23, 2020 The fire erupted Thursday afternoon in the 15000 block of Snow Creek Road, sparked by a vehicle fire, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. No injuries or structure damage have been reported. Firefighters continue to work amid high temperatures and in steep, rugged terrain, although slight cooling is expected Tuesday, according to the U.S. Forest Service, which said full containment is expected Oct. 1. Because of the smoke from the Snow, Bobcat and El Dorado fires, the South Coast Air Quality Management District extended its air quality advisory through Tuesday afternoon. Over the weekend, the flames were threatening about 450 homes in communities near Snow Creek and Windy Point, but firefighters mitigated the threat to those areas and canceled all evacuation edicts. A temporary evacuation point established by the American Red Cross at the James A. Venable Community Center in Cabazon was closed following the rescinding of evacuation directives. After a work truck caught fire north of Snow Creek about 2:40 p.m. Thursday, the fire spread to nearby vegetation and quickly grew to 1,200 acres by that evening. The flames spread into the San Bernardino National Forest and the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, prompting a multi- agency response. A total of 232 firefighters remain assigned to the firefight from several agencies on Monday, including the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management. They were being assisted by one water-dropping helicopter.