Rabbit Fire Containment Extends to 98%, Covering 8,200 Acres

The containment of the Rabbit Fire in Lakeview reached an impressive 98% on Friday, as reported by the Riverside County Fire Department.

At 7 p.m. on Friday, the updated containment figure was announced, marking an increase from 95% earlier in the day. This progress was made possible by the dedicated firefighters who braved extreme heat conditions, working relentlessly to establish containment lines and conduct suppression repairs.

Throughout the night, firefighters will continue to patrol for any hot spots or pockets of fire burning within the burned area, ensuring that the fire remains under control. The department expects full containment to be achieved by Sunday.

All evacuation warnings have been lifted since noon on Wednesday, providing relief to the affected residents.

The fire has burned a total of 8,283 acres, with no change in size since Monday night when it was last updated at 7,950 acres. The fire originated on July 14, around 3:30 p.m., in the vicinity of Gilman Springs Road and Jack Rabbit Trail. Although 152 structures were initially threatened, thanks to the efforts of the firefighters, no structures were destroyed or damaged.

The firefighting operation involved an impressive fleet of resources, including 184 fire engines, 20 water tenders, seven helicopters, and 30 hand crews, comprising a total of 1,578 personnel. Cal Fire Riverside also mobilized additional air tankers from across the state.

While one civilian sustained an injury during the fire, there are no further details available at this time. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The Rabbit Fire was the largest among the four brush fires that broke out in Riverside County on July 14 and 15. Fortunately, the other three fires were fully or nearly contained by Tuesday.