Hathaway wildfire near Banning now 30% contained

The Hathaway wildfire that began Sunday has burned 2,850 acres and is 30% contained, authorities said Wednesday.

The fire, which started on the Morongo Indian Reservation, has primarily grown on its eastern flank, said Bob Poole, a public information officer with the San Bernardino National Forest.

With the western and southern edges of the fire under control, Poole said, firefighters’ focus is primarily on that eastern side.

The burn area is now largely within the San Gorgonio Wilderness in the San Bernardino National Forest, he said.

The eastern edge has reached the site of the 2006 Millard fire, which burned more than 24,000 acres. Less fuel is available where the Millard fire burned, unlike the dense brush and dead trees that cover other parts of the forest.

The steep terrain is making it difficult to reach the fire, Poole said. As of Wednesday morning, six helicopters and six air tankers aided the efforts of 1,183 people working the fire line.

There have been no evacuations, and the fire does not pose an immediate threat to any homes, Poole said. Only one structure, used for storage, has been destroyed.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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