THERMAL: 60-acre blaze destroys 3 homes, closes Hwy. 111 (UPDATE 2)
BY RICHARD BROOKS / STAFF WRITERA 60-acre fire burned up three homes and closed part of a major highway in the Coachella Valley town of Thermal, say Riverside County Fire Department officials.
The blaze was reported at 2:16 p.m. Thursday, June 18, in a date palm grove along Grapefruit Boulevard -- also known as Highway 111 -- south of Church Street.
"Three houses were destroyed (along with) some vehicles and some outbuildings," said Capt. Lucas Spelman.
The fast-moving flames torched the homes within the first 30 minutes and then jumped Grapefruit Boulevard, moving northeast toward Ave. 57, Spelman said.
Union Pacific Railroad stopped train traffic through the area. And authorities closed Grapefruit Boulevard, Fillmore Street, and Desert Cactus Drive.
Within two hours, the flames had spread across 40 acres.
And by 4:30 p.m., three homes and many out buildings had gone up in smoke.
The crews of 25 fire engines battled the flames in temperatures that hit 119 degrees.
Minor burns sent a firefighter to the hospital, where he was expected to be treated and released � within a matter of hours.
By 6 p.m., crews had halted the fire, but had dug fire lines around only 10 percent of the perimeter.--
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