RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) — Crews were making progress Saturday battling a fast-growing and smoky wildfire in southern California that broke out Friday morning, prompting mandatory evacuations and warnings. Now encompassing roughly 6.3 square miles (about 16 square kilometers) east of Moreno Valley in Riverside County, the Springs Fire was 45% contained on Saturday, according to a state website. It was 25% contained on Friday. More than a dozen zones in the county remained under mandatory evacuation orders or evacuation warnings, while six have been dropped. It was not immediately known how many households were affected by the orders. Firefighters were battling strong winds. The National Weather Service issued an advisory for 15 mph to 20 mph winds (24 kph to 32 kph), with gusts up to 45 mph (72 kph), into Saturday afternoon. An air quality alert has also been issued for harmful fine particle pollution levels due to wildfire smoke. Hundreds of people have been battling the blaze using helicopters, engines and water tenders. It’s located in a populated unincorporated part of Riverside County, in a recreational area near the city of Moreno Valley, which has a population of roughly 200,000. The city is 10 miles (16 kilometers) southeast of Riverside and 64 miles (103 kilometers) east of Los Angeles.}
Wildfire in Southern California: Progress Made Amid Ongoing Evacuations
Firefighters in Riverside County are making strides to contain a significant wildfire that has led to mandatory evacuations and hazardous air quality alerts.
Crews have made progress against a rapidly spreading wildfire in Riverside County, California, which has intensified since its outbreak on Friday. As of Saturday, the Springs Fire has grown to approximately 6.3 square miles and is 45% contained, up from 25% on Friday. Mandatory evacuation orders remain in place for several areas due to the fire's proximity to populated communities and hazardous air conditions caused by smoke.





















