Wildfire in San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire, California

The Sandalwood Fire started the morning of October 10th and resulted from a trash truck dumping burning garbage onto vegetation. A mobile home park was evacuated. A total of 16 structures were damaged and 74 structures were destroyed. Two people died as a result of this fire. The fire was fully contained on 10/14 with a final acreage of 1,011 acres.

High pressure over the Great Basin brought moderate Santa Ana winds to southern California October 10th and 11th. Peak wind gusts of 60-65 mph were observed in the Cajon Pass, San Bernardino, Fontana and Fremont Canyon. Peak wind gusts of 55 mph were recorded at Cuyamaca Lake and the I-8 pass in San Diego County. Most of San Diego County had wind gusts of 35-45 mph. Humidity values were in the single digits throughout much of the region. Four wildfires started during this event - two of which were impactful. The Sandalwood Fire destroyed 75 mobile homes in Redlands and the Reche Fire caused evacuations in Moreno Valley.