Crews with the San Bernardino County Fire Department were on the scene of a wind-driven brushfire in Fontana that had grown to an estimated 400 acres and was threatening structures before firefighters were able to gain the upperhand, authorities confirmed to KTLA.
The two-alarm blaze, dubbed the “Sierra Fire,” was first reported around 3:30 p.m. in the area of 11660 Sierra Avenue behind Martin Tudor Splash Park, fire officials said.
Amid warm temperatures and westerly winds blowing between 10-15 miles per hour, the vegetation fire, which was burning in what crews called “light fuel,” moved in a southeasterly direction with “moderate side slope expansion to [the] east,” and quickly grew to some 40 acres.
By 4:30 p.m., fire officials said crews and equipment were in place to protect the threatened structures.
Just two hours later, the brushfire had grown to some 350 acres with 15% containment.
“Additional ground resources and aircraft requested,” fire officials said on X, formerly Twitter.
Mandatory evacuation orders were not issued, and by 10 p.m., officials said containment had reached 80% on the brushfire and there was no remaining threat to any structures.
Officials at the South Coast Air Quality Management District have issued a “smoke advisory” for the city of Fontana as a result of the fire. The advisory runs from Sunday through Monday at 3 p.m.
“Smoke from the Sierra Fire will cause elevated PM 2.5 levels in parts of San Bernardino and Riverside County, including Fontana, Jurupa Valley, Bloomington, Rialto and Colton,” officials warned.
The air quality index may reach “unhealthy” or higher in area directly impacted by smoke.
While the cause of the fire is under investigation, fire officials said crews would remain on the scene overnight to mop up and “reinforce containment lines.”