YUCCA VALLEY FIREFIGHTERS RESPOND TO TWO FIRES YESTERDAY

Yucca Valley firefighters responded to two fires early Monday morning. About 2 a.m. a California Highway Patrol officer reported three small spot fires between the highway and the outer highway at Pinon Avenue. Each fire was about 5 by 5 feet. Four firefighters had the fires out within minutes. The cause of the fires is undetermined, but Battalion Chief Mike Snow said a discarded cigarette or sparks from a passing vehicle could have caused the fires. Then, at 3:30 a.m., seven firefighters responded to a 1 ½-acre blaze north of Sunnyslope and Sage Avenue. Firefighters had to lay 2,500 feet of hose to reach the top of the ridgeline to fight the blaze. Battalion Chief Snow said the low temperature, 73 degrees, 23 percent humidity, and lack of wind helped keep the fire from spreading faster. But due to the rugged terrain, firefighters were not able to extinguish the fire until about 7 a.m. The fire was located near a transient camp and one person was detained by deputies for questioning.