Firefighting crews were hard at work Thursday battling several blazes throughout the Inland Empire region, state fire officials reported.
A brush fire in the San Bernardino National Forest that started in the area between Anza and Pinyon Pines has burned 1,690 acres and was contained 25% on Thursday morning, up from 18% Wednesday when acreage totaled 1,658.
The Rosa Fire was reported at 12:25 p.m. Monday north of State Route 74 at Santa Rosa Truck Trail, according to the Riverside County Fire Department, which is a division of Cal Fire.
“Last night the crews continued to make good progress,” Cal fire reported Thursday morning. “Today fire crews will continue to construct and strengthen existing containment lines. We will remain in a heat advisory with relative humidity that is expected to be in single digits. The remote and rugged terrain in the area continues to present operational challenges for resources.”
On Wednesday, the agency reported that the blaze was “burning in steep, rugged, and remote terrain at moderate elevations, presenting limited access for ground resources and demonstrating a strong resistance to control efforts. Live fuels in the area are nearing critical moisture levels. There is no recorded history of major fire activity in this area.”
Firefighters aggressively attacked the fire from the air and the ground Tuesday, Cal Fire reported.
“The upcoming weather will be hotter and dryer with lower humidity contributing to more fire activity when aligned with slopes and prevailing winds with active fire spread expected,” according to fire department. “Short range spotting is likely with potential fire movement, resulting in evacuation orders and warnings remaining in place until further notice.”
Evacuation orders were issued for the area south of Alpine Village, along with warnings for nearby communities bordering Pinyon Pines on either side Highway 74.
The orders and warnings remained in place Thursday morning as the fire threatened 498 structures, officials said.
Care and reception centers were available at the Anza Community Center, 56630 Highway 371, and the Palm Desert Community Center, 43900 San Pablo Ave. Evacuees’ pets were accepted at the Coachella Valley Animal Campus, 72-050 Pet Land Place in Thousand Palms, or the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, 581 S. Grand Ave.
The California Highway Patrol closed both sides of SR 74 for nearly 25 miles between the junction at SR 371 in Anza to the west and the area surrounding the Big Horn Golf Club, just south of Palm Desert. The highway shutdown was expected to last through the end of this week.
Agencies battling the wildfire Thursday included 1,081 personnel from Cal Fire, the U.S. Forest Service, Palm Springs Fire Department, Cathedral City firefighters and others. Two helicopters along with “numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the state are flying fire suppression missions” in addition to work by 121 engines, 17 water tenders, 20 dozers and 22 hand crews, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
No injuries or damaged structures were reported.
The cause of the wildfire was under investigation.
Gold Fire
Another blaze that has prompted evacuation orders and warnings in the San Bernardino National Forest has scorched 1,079 acres Thursday with 15% containment, up from 991 acres and 5% containment Wednesday, according to Cal Fire.
The Gold Fire was first reported Monday morning and started in the area off of the John Bull Flat Spur trail near Forest Service Road 3N10, north of Big Bear Lake in San Bernardino County, fire officials said.
Evacuation orders were in place for the Holcomb Valley Campground and the Pinnacles Climbing Area, Cal Fire reported. Warnings were issued for Forest Service roads 3N10, 3N07, 3N32 and 3N43.
“Fire progression has slowed, allowing firefighters to take more direct action,” according to a Cal Fire statement Wednesday afternoon. “Ground crews and aircraft will concentrate efforts on the northeastern flank, constructing handline and utilizing dozers where terrain allows. The area remains steep, rugged, and unstable, presenting challenging footing. Firefighters continue to prioritize safety while making effective progress.”
Dry weather and wind gusts were expected, which could complicate firefighting efforts.
“A warming trend will intensify through Thursday and Friday, with very low afternoon humidity and poor overnight recovery,” Cal Fire reported. “Expect typical southwest winds each afternoon and evening, with strong gusts over ridgetops and desert-facing slopes. Nighttime conditions will be warmer and drier on slopes, and cooler in valleys and drainages.”
On Wednesday the fire was burning “with a moderate rate of spread, primarily advancing to the northeast,” Cal Fire reported. “Fire behavior is being influenced by steep terrain and limited accessibility, which pose significant challenges to suppression efforts. Firefighters are working diligently in these rugged areas to slow the fire’s progression and establish control lines. Short-range spotting has been observed, further complicating containment operations.”
Personnel fighting the fire totaled 549 Thursday, up from 500 Wednesday, and “numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the state are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow,” according to Cal Fire.
The U.S. Forest Service and Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit set up a unified command to fight the blaze.
No information on injuries or structures threatened or damaged was immediately available.
The fire’s cause was under investigation.
Keith Fire
A brusher that erupted Tuesday at the foot of a hill in French Valley burned about 10 acres and briefly threatened a ranch property before firefighters stopped it, Cal Fire reported.
The non-injury blaze was reported at 1:20 p.m. Tuesday near Clinton Keith Road and Trois Valley Street, less than 1 mile north of French Valley Airport, fire officials said.
Engine crews from Riverside County and Murrieta Fire & Rescue responded and encountered flames moving at a moderate rate into a riparian area at the base of a hill.
Structures around a ranch home were briefly threatened, and sheriff’s deputies were requested to stand by for evacuations.
About 20 minutes later, two air tankers initiated runs on the fire that halted its forward rate of spread by 1:55 p.m., according to published reports from the scene. Full containment was expected by 4 p.m. Tuesday.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
Updated Aug. 7, 2025, 11:58 a.m.
