Overview: Several wildfires broke out in Southern California over the weekend, with the Juniper fire in Riverside County being the most significant, covering 755 acres and 95% contained. Other fires in San Bernardino County, including the Lake Fire, Cable Fire, and Smiley Fire, also burned acres and are now fully or mostly contained. CAL Fire reported that fire potential across the state is expected to increase steadily through summer due to a drier climate and rising temperatures.
Aryana Noroozi
The Juniper fire broke out Monday morning, south of Ann Way and Juniper Road in Perris. The CAL FIRE Riverside unit had jurisdiction and received support from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and other agencies to fight the flames as they shifted southeast.
Mandatory evacuations orders were issued north of Rocky Hills Road, south of Orange Avenue, west of Forrest Road and east of El Nido Road before they were lifted later Monday. Evacuation warnings were also issued for surrounding locations south of Idaleona Road and north of Santa Rosa Mine Road and were lifted Tuesday afternoon. Two structures burned, but were not homes.
As of Thursday morning the 755-acre fire was 95 percent contained.
On Sunday, near Banning, the Wolf Fire burned 2,414 acres and as of Thursday is 55% contained. The Mandalay Fire, which is 83 acres, also broke out on Sunday near Riverside homes. Officials issued evacuation orders, which have since been lifted. The Mindy Fire also broke out on and grew to 100 acres and is currently at 98% containment.
Other fires also burned across the Inland Empire region this past weekend, including the Lake Fire, in San Bernardino County near Hesperia, which has burned close to 500 acres and is 85% contained as of Thursday morning. CAL Fire San Bernardino has jurisdiction over this fire.
Also in San Bernardino County, the Cable Fire, has burned 20 acres and is 95% contained as of Thursday morning, as is the Smiley Fire, which burned up to 83 acres and is now fully contained.
On Sunday, along with the Wolf Fire, the Mandalay Fire, which is 83 acres, broke out near homes in Riverside. Officials issued evacuation orders, which have since been lifted. The Mindy Fire also erupted and grew to 100 acres before crews stopped forward progress and gained full containment.
Summer is known to be the worst season for wildfires in California, due to drier climate and rising temperatures.
Throughout Southern California this winter, conditions were dry, lending to conditions prone to increased rates of and larger fires this summer. By September, officials predict fire activity across most of the state will be above normal this year.
In an issued statement the agency wrote, “Across both Northern and Southern California, spring 2025 was warmer and drier than normal. In Southern California, precipitation since October was about 70% of average, with consistently above-average temperatures in May.” They also noted that in both Southern and Northern California, dead fuel moisture was low and coastal marine layers show signs of weakening, especially in Southern California, which may contribute to increased fire risk in coastal zones, such as what the Los Angeles area experienced with the Palisades fire.
CAL Fire reported that fire potential across the state is expected to increase steadily through summer.