Firefighters continue battling Lakeland Village blaze overnight
Fire moves across a hillside along Lakeland Village. Miguel Shannon photo
Nearly 200 firefighters spent most of the day and are now continuing to battle a 40-acre brush fire in Lakeland Village along the west side of Lake Elsinore near the Ortega Highway Sunday, Aug. 28.
In the most recent update provided at 12:45 a.m. Aug. 29 by Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Public Information Officer spokeswoman Jennifer Fuhrman, she advised “the fire (was contained to) 40 acres.” Fuhrman continued, “Resources will remain on scene throughout the night and through tomorrow.”
As of 2:25 p.m. at least 185 firefighters, from 21 engine companies, along with six air tankers, two helicopters, three water tenders and one bulldozer were helping to fight the raging vegetation fire. More resources were reportedly en route to assist with the growing fire.
Air tankers made numerous drops of fire retardent onto the fire. Miguel Shannon photo
The fire was being fought with assistance from Riverside County and San Diego County Cal Fire personnel, U.S. Forrest Service firefighters from the Cleveland National Forest, and City of Corona firefighters. A fire investigator is also assisting with the fire investigation.
The fire was first reported at 1:21 p.m. near Evergreen Street and Grand Avenue in the unincorporated community of Lakeland Village, Fuhrman said.
According to a California Highway Patrol incident log, witnesses told CHP dispatchers that the fire was spreading up the hillside from the roadway.
A Cal Fire helicopter returns to base to refill after a successful water drop on the fire. Miguel Shannon photo
In an early release from Cal Fire, Fuhrman explained the fire was “burning at a moderate rate of spread with a potential to burn 200 acres.”
In an update provided at 2:45 p.m. Fuhrman stated that no homes were currently threatened and nobody had been injured as of that update.
Lake Elsinore Sky Dive was shut down due to the growing fire and smoke throughout the area.
Anyone with information about this fire is encouraged to contact Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire officials at (951) 940-6985. Callers can refer to incident file number CA-RRU-104305 and can remain anonymous.
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Photos by Miguel Shannon of Epicenter News
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Trevor Montgomery spent 10 years in the U.S. Army as an Orthopedic Specialist before joining the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department in 1998. He was medically retired after losing his leg in an off-duty accident.
During his time with the sheriff’s department, Trevor worked at several different stations, including the Robert Presley Detention Center, the Southwest Station in Temecula, the Hemet Station, and the Lake Elsinore Station, along with many other locations.
Trevor’s assignments included Corrections, Patrol, DUI Enforcement, Boat and Personal Water-Craft based Lake Patrol, Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement, Problem Oriented Policing Team, Personnel and Background Investigations and he finished his career while working as a Sex Crimes and Child Abuse Investigator.
Trevor has been married for more than 26 years and was a foster parent to more than 60 children over 13 years. He is now an adoptive parent and has 13 children and 10 (soon to be 12) grandchildren.