Multiple fires broke out across the Inland Empire yesterday, fanned by strong Santa Ana winds and low humidity.
The Sandalwood fire in Calimesa destroyed 73 mobile homes and a park clubhouse, damaged 16 other homes and burned at least 500 acres.
It also claimed the life of one person, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.
The department and Cal Fire arson investigators are trying to determine whether the fire was an act of arson.
The fire was 10% contained Friday morning.
North of Moreno Valley, another wind-driven fire blackened about 350 acres and was 60% contained as of Friday afternoon. All evacuation orders were lifted.
Fire officials said that blaze started with a trailer fire and jumped into surrounding vegetation.
Another fire south of Banning burned 75 acres and was 50% contained as of Friday afternoon, prompting evacuations in some parts of Banning.
This fire, named the Wolf Fire, began at 5 p.m. Thursday in the area of Wolfskill Truck Road and Silver Creek Drive, just west of the boundary of the San Bernardino National Forest.
Lastly, a fire broke out in Fontana Thursday afternoon and scorched approximately 10 acres, damaging two homes. That fire is now 100 percent contained.