Crews make containment progress on Bain and Verona fires

CAL FIRE crews made additional containment gains Thursday night on two Riverside County wildfires that had driven evacuations earlier in the week. The Bain Fire near Jurupa Valley was listed at 1,497 acres and 60% contained as of 9:36 p.m. on May 21, according to CAL FIRE. The Verona Fire in the unincorporated Green Acres and Homeland area was listed at 648 acres and 45% contained as of 7:39 p.m. the same day. Both fires remained under investigation. The fires began within about an hour of each other on Tuesday, May 19. CAL FIRE said the Bain Fire started at 11:24 a.m. near Limonite Avenue and Bain Street in Jurupa Valley, while the Verona Fire started at 12:20 p.m. near Verona Road and Juniper Springs Road. Evacuation orders and warnings were issued around both incidents as crews worked in hot, windy conditions. ### How much ground did firefighters gain on the Bain Fire? (fire.ca.gov) The Bain Fire grew to 1,456 acres and 34% containment by the evening of May 20, then rose to 39% containment by the morning of May 21 before reaching 60% by Thursday night, CAL FIRE said. The agency said Van Buren Boulevard had reopened to one lane in each direction by Thursday afternoon as firefighters continued to strengthen containment lines. (fire.ca.gov) CBS Los Angeles reported that at least five people were injured in the Bain Fire, including four civilians and one firefighter. CAL FIRE’s incident page cited evacuation activity and road impacts but did not list injuries in the summary visible Thursday night. ### Which evacuation zones were still under orders or warnings? CAL FIRE said three Bain Fire zones — JUR-0180-B, JUR-0181-C and RIV-0182 — remained under evacuation orders Thursday night. (fire.ca.gov) The agency also listed multiple warning zones in Jurupa Valley and Riverside, including JUR-0179-B, JUR-0279-C and several RIV-designated areas. The Verona Fire no longer showed evacuation orders on its main incident page Thursday night, but CAL FIRE said warnings remained in four zones: HMT-1287, HMT-1288, RVC-1187-B and RVC-1285-A. (cbsnews.com) The agency said earlier orders and warnings had been reduced. ### Where did the Verona Fire stand by Thursday night? The Verona Fire was reported at 500 acres with 5% containment on the morning of May 20, then 600 acres and 30% containment by that evening, according to CAL FIRE. (fire.ca.gov) By 7:07 a.m. on May 21, containment had increased to 38%, and by 7:39 p.m. it had reached 45% while the mapped size was listed at 648 acres. CAL FIRE said the Verona Fire had been burning in heavy fuels at a “moderate to dangerous rate of spread” and that air tankers and ground crews were assigned as conditions allowed. (fire.ca.gov) The incident page listed 518 personnel, 37 engines, 14 water tenders and 27 crews assigned Thursday night. ### What do officials say caused the fires? CAL FIRE listed the cause of both the Bain and Verona fires as under investigation on Thursday night. (fire.ca.gov) The agency did not post a public determination on either incident page. Riverside County fire officials continued to post live incident information and CAL FIRE continued to update evacuation maps and status reports as crews worked toward full containment. (fire.ca.gov) CAL FIRE’s latest posted updates Thursday night were 9:36 p.m. for the Bain Fire and 7:39 p.m. for the Verona Fire. (fire.ca.gov)