Banning Fire: 3,000 Acres Burned, 40 Percent Contained

About 185 firefighters are still battling the fast-moving "Summit Fire" in Riverside County, Calif., where at least 500 people have been driven from their homes. As of this morning, the number of acres burned in the brushfire had reached 3,000, while officials were saying that the blaze was 40 percent contained. One home was destroyed and two firefighters injured, according to KTLA, a local news network.

Hundreds of firefighters hailing from several jurisdictions were working to contain the blaze with the aid of a dozen helicopters and air tankers that dropped water and fire retardant. A red flag warning for critical fire danger issued by the National Weather Service was still in effect for southwestern California, including inland and mountain regions of San Diego County, Orange County coastal areas, Riverside County, the San Bernardino National Forest and Santa Ana mountains. It would remain in effect through 6 p.m. PST Friday due to high winds, warm weather and low relative humidity.

"A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures will create explosive fire growth potential," the weather service advisory said, according to UT San Diego.

The San Bernardino Sun wrote this morning that winds could reach upto 25-30 mph, with gusts of 60 mph possible through the San Gorgonio and Cajon passes. These winds were slated to weaken as the day progresses, while a second peak of high winds will follow tonight and into Friday morning.

Most of the road closures which were in effect earlier have been lifted.

The LA Times reported yesterday that residents in certain areas were suffering from poor air quality as a consequence of the fire. A lull in winds on Wednesday night allowed firefighters to make significant progress in containing the brushfire.

This year has seen a higher-than-average number of wildfires. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection told the LA Times that the agency had responded to more than 680 wildfires this year, 200 more than the average for the period.

Single-digit humidity levels are expected to continue all through today and Friday.