Springs Fire Near Moreno Valley Reaches 45% Containment as Winds Ease and Some Evacuations Lifted
The Springs Fire near Moreno Valley has grown to roughly 6.3 square miles (about 16 km²) in Riverside County and is now at least 45% contained, up from 25% on Friday, county fire officials said. About 260 personnel and aircraft dropping water and retardant have been working the perimeter as winds eased from Friday's gusts, allowing some evacuation warnings to be lifted while fewer than a dozen zones remain under mandatory evacuation; crews are using natural equestrian trails as containment lines and expect rising evening humidity to further help containment, and no structures have been damaged so far.
📌 Key Facts
- The Springs Fire has grown to roughly 6.3 square miles (about 16 square kilometers) in Riverside County, near Moreno Valley.
- Containment increased from 25% on Friday to at least 45% on Saturday, according to Riverside County Fire Department’s Terra Fernandez.
- Gusts up to 45 mph were forecast for Saturday, but winds had dissipated compared with Friday and rising evening humidity is expected to further aid containment.
- About 260 personnel are assigned to the blaze, with aircraft dropping water and retardant around the fire perimeter beginning early Saturday.
- Less than a dozen zones remain under mandatory evacuation orders, some previous evacuation warnings have been lifted, and no structures have been reported damaged or destroyed so far.
- Firefighters are using natural equestrian trails around structures as access routes and containment lines to help control the fire perimeter.
📊 Relevant Data
California's wildfire season has lengthened and its peak has shifted earlier due to climate change, fueled by warmer temperatures, reduced precipitation, and increased human-caused ignitions in previously uninhabited areas, contributing to heightened fire risks in regions like Riverside County.
California's wildfire season has lengthened, and its peak is now earlier in the year — UCI News Special Reports
Indigenous communities in California experience approximately 1.7 times more exposure to wildfire smoke than expected based on their population proportion, which is about 1% of the state's population.
Wildfire smoke disproportionately affects California’s Indigenous communities, new research shows — Berkeley News
American Indian and Alaska Native people in the U.S. experience the highest PM2.5 concentrations from wildland fires, at 1.1 μg/m³, representing 12.8% of their total PM2.5 exposure, compared to lower proportions for other groups.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- The Springs Fire has grown to roughly 6.3 square miles (about 16 square kilometers) in Riverside County.
- Containment increased from 25% on Friday to at least 45% on Saturday, according to Riverside County Fire Department’s Terra Fernandez.
- Gusts up to 45 mph were forecast Saturday, but winds had "dissipated a bit" compared with Friday, aiding firefighting efforts.
- About 260 personnel are now assigned to the blaze, with aircraft dropping water and retardant around the fire perimeter starting early Saturday.
- Less than a dozen zones remain under mandatory evacuation orders, with some previous evacuation warnings lifted; no structures have been damaged or destroyed so far.
- Firefighters are using natural equestrian trails around structures as access and containment lines, and rising evening humidity is expected to further help containment.