Fires Brought Under Control

Firefighters gained the upper hand Friday on stubborn blazes in San Bernardino and Ventura counties that began a day earlier.

A 425-acre fire in the Colton and Grand Terrace areas of San Bernardino County was fully contained by 3:30 p.m., officials said. Investigators were searching for two teenagers they believe had been setting off fireworks Thursday afternoon near the border of San Bernardino and Riverside counties where the fire started.

Tracey Martinez, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department, said witnesses near the fire’s initial location -- where Pico Street dead-ends at the base of Blue Mountain -- heard the whistle of fireworks and then saw two boys running from the area. Martinez said evidence of fireworks known as Piccolo Petes was found at the scene.

Shortly after 3 p.m. Thursday, the fire spread east along Blue Mountain from Grand Terrace into Colton and the Reche Canyon area, at some points veering into Riverside County.

No injuries were reported. But early Thursday evening, firefighters ordered an evacuation of about 200 homes in the Reche Canyon Mobile Home Estates and along Reche Canyon Road because the fire was less than a mile away and moving quickly in their direction.

After authorities concentrated four air tankers and four water-dropping helicopters in the area, the fire receded and residents were permitted to return about 9 p.m. More than 250 firefighters helped battle the blaze.

Martinez said authorities were looking for two 14- or 15-year-old blond boys, both white, about 5 feet 1 and 130 pounds, who may be twins. Anyone with information is asked to call the San Bernardino County Fire Department at (909) 356-3805.

“It goes to show you how one little spark can light a fire and how quickly the fire can take off and start burning out of control,” Martinez said.

In Ventura County, low winds helped crews corral a wildfire in the Lake Sherwood area near Thousand Oaks. The fire, which scorched 168 acres in mountainous terrain, was expected to be fully contained Friday night.

“The fire is what we call a dirty burn because it left lots of islands of unburned brush inside the perimeter,” said Capt. Barry Parker of the Ventura County Fire Protection District. He said crews wanted to ensure that those patches of vegetation don’t flare up and cause a larger blaze.

Three firefighters suffered heat exhaustion while battling the blaze Friday and were airlifted from the Carlisle Canyon area for treatment.

About 300 firefighters were battling the fire.

“It’s warm; a lot of the terrain is steep and rugged and hard for crews to get into and out of. It’s dangerous for the crews,” Parker said.

Westlake Boulevard remained closed from Potrero to Decker Canyon roads. A voluntary evacuation remained in effect in the canyon.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Times staff writer Gary Polakovic contributed to this article.