Palmer fire in Riverside County grows to 3,800 acres
Firefighters are battling a brush fire that has now burned 3,800 acres in Riverside County and forced hundreds of people to evacuate their homes.
The Palmer fire broke out around 1:30 p.m. Saturday west of Beaumont, near San Timoteo Canyon Road and Fisherman’s Retreat, and rapidly spread by nightfall. The blaze is believed to have been caused by fireworks, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
As of Sunday evening, the blaze was 35% contained. More than 400 firefighters have been working to stop its spread, assisted by air tankers.
Evacuation orders and road closures were lifted at 4 p.m. Sunday. Residents had been ordered Saturday to evacuate on Live Oak Canyon Road between San Timoteo Canyon Road and Interstate 10, forcing nearly 450 people out of their homes. Redlands Boulevard was still closed south of San Timoteo Canyon Road.
Times staff writer Alene Tchekmedyian contributed to this report.
Twitter: @LATimesEmily
UPDATES:
7:00 p.m.: This article was updated with updated acreage and containment.
4:45 p.m.: This article was updated to indicate evacuation orders were lifted.
This article was originally published at 9:35 a.m.
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