Two regional fires are sending smoke into the Morongo Basin, depending on wind directions, but are not posing any danger to us.
Evacuation orders were lifted Saturday for the Snow Creek area and Sunday for the Windy Point neighborhoods that were threatened by the Snow Fire, at the base of Mount San Jacinto near Palm Springs. The Snow Fire has burned 6,013 acres and is 38% contained. The fire’s location in the wind tunnel area of the San Gorgonio pass has concerned firefighters, as winds gust up to 30 miles per hour through the pass. Air tankers will focus on the ridgelines to keep the fire from threatening Palm Springs. The Snow Fire started Thursday afternoon from a car fire.
The nearby El Dorado fire is at 22,576 acres and is 59% contained as of this morning. Critically dry fuels still exist, and spot fires continue to occur. A large rock and debris slide caused the closure of Highway 38 between mile marker 16 and 17; CalTrans will attempt to clear the slide today. The fire has met the highway on the slopes to the south of Angelus Oaks, and down the north aspect slopes to Highway 38. Containment lines remain at risk due to hot rolling material along the Hwy 38 corridor. The Oak Glen, Yucaipa, Banning, and Beaumont portions of the fire have moved into patrol status.
The El Dorado Fire started on September 5, in El Dorado Park located in the Yucaipa/Oak Glen area when an incendiary device was used for a gender reveal event.
