Bonny Fire 90% Contained; Full Containment Expected Monday

AGUANGA (CNS) – The Bonny Fire southeast of Aguanga was 90% contained Thursday with full containment expected Monday, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The increase reported at 7 a.m. Thursday, and had been steadily increasing daily this week.

All mandatory evacuation orders tied to the fire were canceled Wednesday as firefighters continued building on the work accomplished overnight, reinforcing containment lines and cooling hot spots, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

There was no fire spread, with the 2,322-acre fire staying within its perimeter. The acreage was increased from the previous total of 2,300 acres due to improved mapping.

Firefighters continued building containment line and patrolling the fire area.

"Crews will also be conducting suppression repair work, fixing areas that may have been damaged by fire suppression efforts," officials said.

The brush fire erupted early last Thursday afternoon in the area of Bonny and Barber lanes on the edge of the Cahuilla Indian Reservation.

According to the Riverside County Fire Department, the evacuation orders impacting properties north of the San Diego County line and south of Ramsey Road were no longer deemed necessary as of 3 p.m. Wednesday.

However, evacuation warnings remain in place for the area south of Bowers Road, north or Rim Rock Road, east of Bonny and west of Chapman Road.

Crews were being released from the fire lines Wednesday afternoon to join personnel battling brush fires in Sage and Cabazon.

The Bonny Fire nearly swept across Chapman and Johnston roads shortly after 2 p.m. Friday, prompting Cal Fire air tankers and water-dropping helicopters to unload in the immediate vicinity of several homes, protecting them from damage. One outbuilding and a vehicle were destroyed Friday afternoon.

One firefighter was injured over the weekend, though not seriously.

At the fire’s peak, an estimated 2,000 personnel were on the ground, including county engine and hand crews, as well as strike teams and other firefighters from the Corona Fire Department, Hemet Fire Department, Murrieta Fire & Rescue and other agencies. Hot shot crews from Kern County were also dispatched to the area, which is sparsely populated.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Copyright 2023, City News Service, Inc.