Poomacha fire scorches 23,000 acres

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A new fire, dubbed the Poomacha fire, erupted about 3 a.m. Tuesday south of Highway 76, burned through the Rincon Indian Reservation and then jumped Interstate 15 westward in the Del Dios area.

By noon it had scorched 23,000 acres and destroyed several buildings and was running parallel to the Rice fire. Firefighters are concerned that the two fires will meet explosively in Del Dios Canyon. Firefighters have been pulled out of the area, and residents are under mandatory evacuation.

Also, the Witch fire is now listed as 200,000 acres and growing.

-- Tony Perry