Evacuation warnings lifted in Riverside County amid 300-acre vegetation fire

Evacuation warnings for parts of Riverside County have been lifted as a vegetation fire continues to burn in a rural area near the Pala Casino in San Diego County.

Crews continued efforts on Friday to build containment lines around the 300-acre wildfire,

The Henderson Fire started for unknown reasons shortly after 5:30 p.m. Friday off Henderson Road, north of state Route 76 and east of Interstate 15, according to Cal Fire. The blaze was 15% contained as of Saturday morning.

"We've ordered additional aircraft this morning," Cal Fire Capt. Mike Cornette said Saturday, adding the pilots have been helped by improved visibility.

The northwest-spreading fire grew to 30 acres by 6:59 p.m. Friday as ground crews and personnel aboard air tankers and water-dropping helicopters worked to subdue the blaze, the state agency reported.

The fire grew to 200 acres by 9:57 p.m. Friday, and to 300 acres by Saturday morning, according to Cal Fire. At least check, it was 15% contained.

In an update around 5:30 p.m., Cal Fire said the fire was 40% contained.

"Firefighters continued their efforts in fire suppression today while working in steep and rugged terrain," Cal Fire said in a statement. "The aggressive aerial support from fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft has helped slow the fire activity. Firefighter hand crews and bulldozers are actively constructing control lines around the fire's perimeter to aid in mop-up operations."

Officials said a fifth-wheel travel trailer was destroyed in the fire. The residents were offered assistance from the Red Cross.

An evacuation order was issued for nearby areas, with a temporary evacuation point set up at the Pala Casino parking lot. The warnings were also issued for a small portion of Riverside County, which encompasses the area north of the San Diego County Line, east of Rainbow Oaks Drive and Pala Road, south of Pechanga Road and Anza Road and west of Crosley Truck Trail.

In an update at 3:10 p.m., Cal Fire said all evacuation warnings in Riverside County had been lifted. The county Sheriff's Office announced Saturday afternoon that all San Diego County evacuation orders had been downgraded to warnings. Cal Fire said the warnings will remain in effect throughout the night and will be reassessed Sunday morning.

Meanwhile, the Orange County Fire Authority on Saturday reported that "the smoke and haze some Orange County residents are smelling and seeing are from a vegetation fire in San Diego County. There is no threat to Orange County."

Saturday's weather could pose additional challenges to firefighters, with temperatures in the 90s and winds gusting up to 25 miles per hour in the area.

City News Service contributed to this report.