There were three major fires over the Independence Day holiday weekend, with the largest believed to have been started by illegal fireworks.
Yucca Valley Brush Fire
A one-acre brush fire on the night of July 4 led to home evacuations in Yucca Valley, though ultimately no one was injured and no structures caught fire.
At approximately 10:30 p.m., County Sheriff’s Deputies and crews from San Bernardino County Fire responded to reports of a fire in an open desert area northwest of Free Gold Drive and El Dorado Drive.
The Sheriff’s Department reports that, owing to wind conditions, several houses in the area were evacuated in anticipation of the fire spreading into the nearby neighborhood. Several roads were blocked off in the area while fire crews from County Fire and the Bureau of Land Management worked to control the fire, which was extinguished by 1 a.m.
The fire burned approximately one acre of land, and did not spread to any structures. No injuries have been reported.
Battalion Chief Jeff Allen thanked the homeowners for creating defensible space around their homes by removing dry weeds and grass.
The Sheriff’s Department suspects that the fire was started by illegal fireworks, as several witnesses reported hearing a large boom prior to seeing flames. No arrests have yet been made.
Wonder Valley structure fire
Early in the morning of July 5, at around 2:25, County Fire Crews responded to a structure fire in Wonder Valley. The arrived at the fire near Twentynine Palms Highway and Danby ride, to find an unoccupied structure fully involved in the fire.
County fire crews were joined by two engines from the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center. Power lines had fallen, making it more difficult for crews to work, but they were able to knock down the fire in 20 minutes without injury and keep it to the property.
The cause of the fire is under investigation, but officials with County Fire said that they don’t believe it is related to fireworks.
Yucca Valley structure fire
A house fire in the Western Hills neighborhood of Yucca Valley was extremely visible on the afternoon of July 5, but no injuries were reported.
At around 5:50 p.m. on the 57000 block of Castro Road in Yucca Valley, reports came in about a three story house with visible flames coming through the roof. County fire engines arrived to find a heavy fire at the unoccupied home.
County Fire Crews wer joined by engines from Cal Fire San Bernardino and Cal Fire Riverside who faced challenges from the high temperatures and steep driveway.
The fire was extinguished by 7 p.m., without any injuries. The cause of the fire is currently under investigation.
UPDATED 10:25 a.m. The Sheriff’s Department released additional information about the July 5 fire on Castro Road, saying that it is suspected to be an electrical fire.
