The wildfire has consumed more than two dozen homes and injured six people, including five firefighters
By Christina Cocca and Melissa Pamer | KNBC-TV Los Angeles
| Friday, Aug 9, 2013 | Updated 9:13 AM PDT
A Southern California wildfire that consumed 25 square miles of dry, mountainous terrain in less than two days was heading east in the direction of Palm Springs Friday morning, as high winds were worrying fire officials.More than 1,400 firefighters battled the blaze overnight as gusts continued to push the flames, which prompted mandatory evacuations and worries about the fire's dangerous growth potential.
Since it broke out about 2 p.m. Wednesday in the foothills of the San Jacinto Mountains about 90 miles east of Los Angeles, the blaze has injured five firefighters and severely burned one resident.
Nearly 30 structures, most of them homes, were destroyed.
An estimated 1,800 people were told to evacuate from multiple communities, with Snow Creek Village the most recent addition, according to an online incident report.
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As the sun rose Friday, the Silver Fire had burned 16,000 acres south of Banning and Cabazon, two cities along the 10 Freeway. The fire was 25 percent contained.
Winds blowing at 26 mph -- along with the rugged terrain -- were a cause for concern as the flames moved east toward the resort town of Palm Springs.
"Both of them together is exactly what the biggest problem is, and that is why this is a critical rate of spread," Riverside County fire Capt. Lucas Spellman said Friday morning.
Temperatures were expected to reach into the region Friday.
At least 26 homes and a commercial building were destroyed, and two other structures were damaged, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
At a Thursday afternoon news conference, Cal Fire Riverside Chief John R. Hawkins said more than 500 structures had been threatened in the blaze, which he said had moved rapidly and jumped Highway 243 soon after it was reported.
Hawkins said the "dangerous fire" was still spreading, burning both up the mountain and toward Cabazon.
Hundreds of homes and more than 1,800 people were affected by the evacuation orders. Those displaced by the fire were worried about the status of their homes, as smoke spread broadly across the area.
"It's stressful, you always wonder if your house is going to be there or not," said resident Mike Galusha.
One resident was discovered severely burned from "head to toe" inside a travel trailer near the fire's origin at Wolfskill Truck Trail (map).
Hawkins called the Silver Fire a "180-degree mirror image of Esparanza Fire."
Evacuation orders remain in effect for Vista Grande, Mt. Edna, Poppet Flats, Twin Pines and Silent Valley, Snow Creek Village in Cabazon, and other parts of Cabazon. Evacuation centers were established at Hemet High School, 41701 East Stetson Ave. in Hemet and Beaumont High School, 39139 Cherry Valley Blvd., in Beaumont.
An animal evacuation center was established at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, 581 South Grand Ave. in San Jacinto.
Boulder Basin and Black Mountain Campgrounds on Black Mountain Road have been closed through Aug. 15.
Highway 243 south of Banning is closed.
In addition to the Silver Fire, the 1,416-acre Falls Fire continued to burn Friday about 5 miles west of Lake Elsinore, but firefighters expected to fully contain the flames by nightfall.
Residents in the following areas were told to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities: Lake Elsinore, Perris Valley, Hemet/San Jacinto Valley, Banning Pass, Coachella Valley and Temecula Valley.
Anywhere that residents can see or smell smoke from the wildfires was also included in the warning, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.
The Silver Fire broke out in an area about 20 miles north-northwest of the origin of the Mountain Fire, which burned 43 square miles last month. In that blaze, which prompted the evacuation of thousands of area residents, fire officials had warned of extremely flammable fuels due in part to a dry winter.
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