Vegetation fire near Mecca burns 127 acres; now 50% contained
About 24 hours after it started, a fire burning near Mecca that made for smoky conditions in parts of the Coachella Valley was 50% contained, CalFire officials said Tuesday afternoon. And firefighters had limited its spread.
The department added that the fire, which is burning in an area of brush near the intersection of the Highway 86 Expressway and Avenue 66, was estimated to have burned 127 acres. That represented only slight fire growth from 8 p.m. Monday, when the fire was 110 acres and 5% contained.
CalFire first announced the fire at around noon on Monday, saying at that point that it was between three and five acres, burning at a medium rate of speed and a threat to powerlines. At that point, they said it had the potential to burn 200 acres and that early firefighting efforts had been hampered by winds.
The Riverside County Fire Department was battling the fire with crews from Palm Springs, Cathedral City and Hemet. Imperial Irrigation District and California Highway Patrol are providing additional resources.
Avenue 66 remained closed between Highway 86 and Fillmore Street. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Wildfire near Mecca now 127 acres, 50% contained
