Mountain Fire Flares Up; Silver Fire Fully Contained

A flare-up occurred Monday afternoon inside the area burned by the Mountain Fire in the Idyllwild area, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The small fire, estimated at 3 1/2 acres, broke out near Skunk Cabbage Meadows in the San Bernardino National Forest and was "generating considerable smoke that is visible from the mountain communities," according to the Forest Service.

Crews and three water-dropping helicopters were sent to the area, according to the Forest Service.

"This area contains considerable timber and will generate smoke until the fire is completely extinguished, which may take months," according to a statement from the Forest Service.

The Mountain Fire, which was sparked by electrical equipment failure on private property northeast of Idyllwild on July 15, burned 27,531 acres and destroyed 23 structures, including seven residences. It was declared fully contained on July 30.

Meanwhile, the Silver Fire near Banning was fully contained Monday, after charring 20,292 acres, destroying 26 homes and injuring a dozen people since breaking out south of Banning on Wednesday.

The Riverside County Sheriff's Department lifted remaining evacuation orders for people affected by the fire, including the communities of Poppet Flats, Mt. Edna, Silent Valley and Twin Pines. The fire was declared 100 percent contained at 6 p.m.

—City News Service