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

2019-10-10 to 2019-10-14 · San Bernardino and Riverside County Valleys - the Inland Empire, California

Event narrative

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.

Wider weather episode

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.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 861536. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.