Morongo Basin firefighters responded to two vegetation fires Friday. The first fire was called in at 10:03 a.m. in a remote and rocky area north of the Joshua Tree Retreat Center in Joshua Tree. County Battalion Chief Donnie Viloria said firefighters from Yucca Mesa, Joshua Tree, and Yucca Valley were hampered by poor access to the area with only old Jeep trails and no access from pavement or marked dirt roads. When crews finally arrived, they discovered a one-acre fire burning on a rocky hillside. Viloria said crews put out the fire in about 10 minutes but it took firefighters—including an inmate fire crew from Devore—three hours to mop up the area and ensure the hotspots were completely out.
The second vegetation fire was reported at 3:56 p.m. in the area of the old motor cross tracks in Yucca Valley above San Andreas and Sage Avenue. Yucca Valley firefighters found a small spot fire, about 10 feet by 10 feet, burning, and quickly knocked down the flames. The crew was on scene for about 30 minutes to make sure the fire was out.
Viloria said no cause was determined for either fire but each appeared to be careless in origin. He reminds residents to be hyper-vigilant during the wildfire season as it takes just one spark to create a devasting wildfire.
