Wolf Fire Slows Near Banning After Burning 2,400 Acres; Three Firefighters Injured

Tonight’s top story continues to unfold in Riverside County, where the Wolf Fire has burned more than 2,400 acres south of Banning. First reported Sunday afternoon just after 3 p.m. near Old Banning Idyllwild Road and Wolfskill Truck Trail, the fire prompted evacuation orders and warnings for nearby communities.

According to CAL FIRE, containment stands at 40%, and more than 300 personnel have been working the front lines. Crews have used air tankers, helicopters, and fire retardant drops in an aggressive effort to contain the blaze. However, in a promising development, all CAL FIRE air tankers have now been grounded as the fire’s intensity has decreased.

Three firefighters have been injured while battling the flames, but officials say no structures have been reported lost at this time.

NBC Palm Springs' Brett Rosen is on the ground in Banning, reporting from the hills behind the fire zone. He spoke with residents under evacuation warnings, including Isaiah Moore, who was forced to leave his home with little more than bottled water. “I just got informed by my landlord that we’re under evacuation. I grabbed water and that’s it. I have no money, no phone service.”

The American Red Cross has opened an evacuation shelter at Hemet High School, which is situated between the Wolf Fire and the Mindy Fire, a smaller brush fire also sparked on Sunday. Shelter supervisor Ken Rieger says many evacuees arrived with only the clothes on their backs. “People are coming in basically with what they’re wearing. Their areas have been under go-evacuation, so they played it safe and came here.”

Locals say wildfires are nothing new, but quick evacuation remains their biggest concern. “If everyone leaves at once, how are you going to get out? There’s only one real exit,” one resident said.

Firefighters remain on scene monitoring hot spots and reinforcing containment lines. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

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