Southern California Firefighters Make Progress, But 2,500 Buildings Still Threatened by Wildfires

While favorable conditions allowed firefighters to contain 20% of the Highland Fire in Riverside County, the continued threat to around 2,500 buildings remains amid the forecast of potential winds.

On Wednesday, firefighters made significant progress in containing the Southern California Highland Fire, aided in part by eased Santa Ana winds. Despite this, around 2,500 buildings still remain threatened, mostly homes.
The Highland Fire, located in rural Riverside County southeast of Los Angeles, has remained mostly unchanged in size, covering an area just under 4 square miles.
At the time of the reports, the fire was 20% contained, a collective effort achieved by roughly 1,200 firefighters working in challenging conditions characterized by low humidity and rugged terrain.
Despite progress on containment, potential future winds pose a risk. Therefore, local authorities warned residents who were allowed to return home to remain vigilant as conditions could change rapidly.
So far, the fire has resulted in the destruction of seven homes and other buildings, with an additional six damaged. Notable casualties include the properties of retiree George Boyles and resident Luis Quinonez.