Fires In Palm Springs, Cabazon Keep Firefighters Busy Overnight

Nearly 100 firefighters were mopping up hot spots Wednesday, June 3rd, and building containment lines at the scene of a brush fire deemed suspicious that charred 139 acres near the late Bob Hope’s former home in Palm Springs.

No structures were threatened, and the forward rate of progress of the fire has been stopped, according to Palm Springs Fire Capt. Nathan Gunkel.

The fire broke out in the hills south of Toledo Avenue and Murray Canyon Drive around 4:30 p.m. Tuesday,  south of the Hope home on Southridge Drive, in an area with “very difficult access.”

Firefighters from multiple agencies worked to reduce the flames by about 9 p.m., with help from three fixed-wing aircraft and three helicopters dumping water and retardant.

The fire was knocked down at 10:30 Tuesday night.

Fire crews worked throughout the overnight to prevent hot spots from flaring up, a job Gunkel said would continue throughout Wednesday and possibly into Wednesday evening.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation, although a homeless man located in the area was questioned.

Gunkel cited the lack of electrical equipment in the area, and no reports of lightning, as reasons to consider the blaze “suspicious.”

No major injuries were reported, although a hiker inhaled smoke and a firefighter suffered heat exhaustion, although neither was hospitalized, Gunkel said.

The fire charred land belonging to the Bureau of Land Management, near land owned by the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians and the U.S. Forest Service, according to Gunkel.

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Three people were injured in a fire that destroyed a home and a small outbuilding and damaged another structure early Wednesday morning in the unincorporated Cabazon area of Riverside County near Banning.

Firefighters responded to the 52000 block of Adele Avenue about 1:10 Wednesday morning June 3rd and found a single-story home fully involved.

CalFire says the fire spread to two other structures.

Two women and a man were taken to a hospital in unknown condition.

The fire was reported fully contained about 2:50 a.m., Wednesday, June 3rd.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Photo from Alpha Media USA Portland OR