By Brian Hews
[UPDATE] Over 5,000 acres now burned, over ten structures destroyed.
(Riverside County) A wild fire near Banning has already scorched 2,500 acres on Wednesday prompting a swift response by fire fighters.
The Silver Fire began at around 2 p.m. on Wednesday in the Riverside County area near Poppet Flats Rd near Hwy 243.
Mandatory evacuations for the communities of Poppet Flats, Twin Pines and Silent Valley have been called and an Evacuation Center has been set up at Hemet High School 41701 East Stetson Avenue Hemet.
Hwy 243 is closed and several agencies have responded to the scene including the American Red Cross, Bureau of Land Management, California Highway Patrol – Indio, March ARB, Morongo Fire Department, Riverside County Fire Department, Riverside County Fire Office Of Emergency Services, Riverside County Sheriff’s Office, and the USFS – San Bernardino.
More than 450 fire personnel have been deployed to the fire area including 71 fire trucks, and 14 crews.
