The largest wildfire in California this year is no longer growing, fire officials said Saturday morning.
The Riverside County Springs fire, fueled by strong Santa Ana winds up to 50 mph on Friday, did not grow overnight, with firefighters battling the blaze on the ground and aircraft dropping water from above, according to Terra Fernandez, a spokesperson for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Riverside.
“We have a pretty good hold on it,” said Fernandez.
But she added that wind gusts of up to 30 mph anticipated Saturday afternoon could result in the fire growing.
The fire calmed down overnight due to calming winds and increased humidity, which slowed growth. Firefighter hand crews were on the ground cutting fire lines to help contain the blaze.
As of Saturday morning, the 4,176-acre fire was 75% contained, according to Cal Fire. No people have been injured and no structures have been burned, Fernandez said.
Portions of southwest Riverside County near Lake Perris were still under evacuation order, while others were downgraded to warnings.
In Los Angeles County, the Crown fire, which has burned 275 acres southwest of Acton and which broke out Friday as well, was 74% contained as of Saturday morning, up from 26% contained Friday night at 10 p.m.
The Springs fire was first reported about 11 a.m. Friday near the 15900 block of Gilman Springs Road, fire officials said. It was driven by strong easterly Santa Ana winds of 30 to 40 mph.
The fire forced evacuations and closures, with Moreno Valley College announcing it would be closed Friday and Saturday, canceling all events on its main campus.
Bridgett Hollier, who lives on Andalusian Court in Moreno Valley, said she could feel the heat from the fire and see the flames licking at the mountains from her house, though she was not under an evacuation order.
But firefighters worked quickly to keep hers and her neighbors’ properties safe, she said.
“It was very stressful because it came right behind my house,” she said. “The little area beyond the walking trail right behind my house was on fire.”
