Mandatory evacuations for nearly 1,700 were ordered as a result of a wind-driven brush fire burning near Rancho Cucamonga Wednesday amid a spring heat wave and warnings about critical fire danger, reports KTLA 5.
The wildfire, dubbed the Etiwanda Fire, was called in by residents at about 8 a.m., according to Fire Chief Mike Bell of the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Department.
It began in the Day Canyon area north of the 210 Freeway and quickly spread to 800 acres, according to a multi-agency fire incident page.
Firefighting aircraft were grounded due to high winds and firefighters initially had trouble accessing the area on the ground, according to Bell.
“We’re actually staying out of the canyon due to the winds and the unpredictable nature of the fire,” Bell said.
Firefighters on the ground gained access to the fire later in the morning, according to John Miller of the U.S. Forest Service, which is the lead agency in the firefight.
CAL Fire and the Rancho Cucamonga Fire Department were also assisting in the fight. As many as 550 firefighters were involved, according to the incident page.
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