Bogart wildfire burns down 1000 acres in southern California forcing evacuations

RIVERSIDE, Calif., Aug. 31: A new fire in Southern California has quickly burned 1,000 acres on Tuesday forcing hundreds of evacuations in a rural area south east of Los Angeles, fire authorities said.

The Bogart Fire was first reported to the Riverside County Fire Department about 12:30 p.m. The fire quickly grew to 1,000 acres and destroyed at least one building. Most of the 700 evacuations were lifted by late Tuesday evening. The fire is 10 percent contained, authorities said.

Forestry and Fire Protection investigators said the blaze was started by “juvenile activity” near a local park in the town of Beaumont.

More than 400 firefighters are fighting the blaze with five helicopters, four bulldozers and nine air tankers. A firefighter was treated for a non-life threatening injury.