A Southern California brush fire destroyed multiple homes and caused minor injuries for one firefighter before it was fully contained Tuesday, roughly 24 hours after it started, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.
Named the Edgehill Fire, the blaze ignited Monday at 2:40 p.m., the agency said. When firefighters arrived to the 3300 block of Beverly Drive in the city of San Bernardino, the blaze was only about one acre, but it was "rapidly moving," the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District said.
It was 109 degrees at the time.
Five single-family homes and one outbuilding were destroyed, according to a damage assessment released by the fire district, which provides fire response service to the city. Three single family homes were damaged.
Evacuation orders were issued for people living near the fire, including on the south side of Ridge Line Drive and on the north side of Edgehill Road, according to the fire protection district. The orders have since been lifted, according to the San Bernardino Police Department.
Pictures shared by the police department on X showed structures that appear to be almost completely burned down.
The fire, which grew to 54 acres, was fully contained as of Tuesday evening, according to county fire officials. Roads in the area have been reopened.
No civilians were injured in the fire, but one firefighter received minor injuries, police said.
A family's three dogs were killed by the raging fire, NBC Los Angeles reported.
The dogs' owner, Justin Hernandez, said he returned to his home Tuesday after evacuating based on officials' mandate.
“There is nothing left,” he told NBC Los Angeles. “We left to work, said bye to our dogs, came back, and it’s like a bomb went off.”
The cause of the fire has been determined to be "human in nature," according to fire district spokesperson Eric Sherwin, but it's not clear at this time if the ignition of the fire was intentional, unintentional or negligent. It's not clear if anyone is in custody in connection with the fire.
The fire's origin has been narrowed down to the 3300 block of Beverly Drive, police said in an update Tuesday afternoon.
"Arson investigators are still on scene determining the cause and a more precise origin of the fire," police said on X.
Firefighters and law enforcement are staying in the area impacted by the fire Tuesday as temperatures of 95 to 106 are expected in San Bernardino County, according to police and National Weather Service. An excessive heat warning was in effect for the county until 11 p.m. Tuesday.
"Road closures are still in effect for Circle Road, Vista Drive, Hillhurst Drive, and parts of Edgehill Road" to ensure that personnel can respond to impacted areas, police said. Those who are affected by the fire can go to Cajon High School to receive information.
