By: Jasmine Jiang
A fourth wildfire, the Rabbit fire, broke out in western Riverside County in California on Saturday, July 15, 2023, burning down many acres of land and causing evacuations. Evacuation orders were at East of Jack Rabbit Trail, North of Gilman Springs, North of Potrero Reserve, and West of Highway 79.
The Rabbit fire, which began the afternoon of Friday, July 14, 2023 in the community of Lakeview, burned 7,600 acres of land with 10% containment as of the morning on Sunday, July 16, 2023 , according to the California Department of Forestry/Riverside County Fire Department.
Sanchez, an employee at Mr. Taco restaurant on Beaumont Avenue just north of the fire evacuation area, described the scene: “It’s getting closer and looks pretty dangerous. It’s just an inferno. Ash is raining down and people are coming in here covered in ash.”
With the searing heat and poor air quality, business was brisk Saturday afternoon: “It’s like a safe haven here right now,” Sanchez said. “Our dining room is full and people get to be inside in the air conditioning and enjoy beer and refreshments.”
There were also three other fires during similar times, including the Reche fire that burned down 437 acres in the north of Moreno Valley. Almost 300 firefighters fought the Reche fire.
The Highland fire in the south of Beaumont burned down 105 acres. The Gavilan fire, near Gavilan and Idaleona west of Perris has burned down 250 acres.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District warned that there would be unhealthy air in western Riverside County caused by the wildfire: “This heatwave is NOT typical desert heat due to its long duration, extreme daytime temperatures, & warm nights. Everyone needs to take this heat seriously, including those who live in the desert,” the National Weather Service in Las Vegas said in a tweet.
Many temperature records were broken due to the fires, according to the National Weather Service. In Antelope Valley, Lancaster hit 112 degrees and Palmdale reached 111 degrees.
The high temperatures of heat can cause many illnesses, including heat-stroke and heat-exhaustion.