Silver fire: Multiple factors created dangerous, fast-moving fire

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A DC-10 tanker drops retardant ahead of the fire line on the mountains above Snow Creek Village near Cabazon as the 16,000-acre Silver fire in Riverside County continues to burn. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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An inmate fire crew from Northern California awaits orders in Snow Creek Village near Cabazon before scaling the mountain in the background. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Snow Creek Village resident Keith Jackson rakes up the debris after firefighters cleared the combustible vegetation around his home. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Inmate fire crews are led to the front lines by a Cal Fire captain above Snow Creek Village near Cabazon. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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The Silver fire burns east toward wind turbines and a view of Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A tree burns amid scorched property along Highway 243 in Riverside County. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Property, buildings and machinery lie in ruin along Twin Pines Road in Riverside County. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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At sunset, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighter hand crews from Miramonte knock down part of the Silver fire. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighter from Miramonte sports a smile after fighting the blaze in an area along Highway 243. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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The fast-moving Silver fire pushes east toward a view of Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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The Silver fire that has scorched more than 10,000 acres in Riverside County rages east toward wind turbines and the desert. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter keeps a close eye on swirling embers while battling the Silver fire. The fire had destroyed at least 12 structures Wednesday night. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters work into the night to try to control the Silver fire, which has burned more than the 6,000 acres and forced the evacuations of communities near Poppet Flats, south of Banning, on Wednesday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Flames from the Silver fire burn close to Highway 243 south of Banning. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Flames from the Silver fire burn into the evening as crews try to get a handle on the blaze that has forced the evacuation of several communities. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

By Jason Wells and Joseph Serna

Aug. 8, 2013 2:52 PM PT

When the Silver fire ignited about 2 p.m. Wednesday, officials say the stage was set for explosive growth that initially overwhelmed residents and the emergency crews sent to get them out of harm’s way.

The Silver fire raged from 300 acres in its infancy to 5,000 acres just three hours later, a feat assisted by topography that runs parallel to the prevailing winds, literally putting the wind at the fire’s back, which pushed it rapidly over steep terrain, outbuildings, homes and vehicles.

With the fire lines spreading rapidly and exits cut off by the flames, emergency crews were forced to ask some residents to “shelter in place” until firefighters and sheriff’s deputies could safely escort them out.

One resident had to be airlifted to a hospital after being burned “head to toe” in what CalfFire Battalion Chief Julie Hutchinson called a “very tragic situation” in an interview with KTLA. The condition of the victim could not immediately be determined.

“As we were starting to bring the equipment, the fire had already made runs off the flats and toward the communities in the San Jacinto Mountains,” CalFire spokesman Daniel Berlant said. “We had a lot of resources thrown on this fire early, but it was still a very fast-moving fire.”

One thing is clear, a confluence of ingredients, including tinder-dry conditions and steady winds, combined to create a monster of a fire in short order -- one that at last count had destroyed or damaged at least 15 structures and claimed scores of pets.

Four firefighters have also been injured battling the blaze, which as of Thursday afternoon had scorched 10,000 acres and was just 10% contained.

“This is a different side of San Jacinto Mountains,” Berlant said. “This fire has definitely grown a lot faster than the one last month, in general.”

In that blaze, the Mountain fire, more than 27,000 acres of chaparral and timber were scorched near Idyllwild, and multiple buildings – including mobile homes, a commercial building and several outbuildings -- were destroyed.

Firefighters were able to finally get a handle on the fire after cooler and wetter-than-normal conditions gave them a break.

In the case of the Silver fire, inaccessible rugged terrain, dry conditions and steady wind have combined to make its spread relentless, officials said.

According to CalFire Deputy Director Janet Upton, it’s a worsening trend.

The fires this year have been noticeably more intense since May, she said, noting that 11 of California’s 20 worst fires in history have been in the last 10 years.

According to CalFire, roughly 80,000 acres across the state have burned so far this year. At the same time last year, that number was 39,386.

“The intensity isn’t being caused by winds, they’re caused by fuel,” Upton said. “They’re causing fire behavior to be extreme.”

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jason.wells@latimes.com

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