Third Firefighter Hurt Battling Brush Fire in Thermal

A third firefighter was injured today battling a brush fire that has blackened about 80 acres since late Monday morning.

The firefighter was taken to a hospital for treatment of an undisclosed, but non-life-threatening injury, said Jennifer Fuhrman of the Riverside County Fire Department.

The fire broke out for unknown reasons at 10:26 a.m. Monday at Avenue 66 and Harrison Street and has been listed as 40 percent contained since late yesterday. Firefighting has been complicated by high temperatures and heavy vegetation, including thick mulch and Tamarisk trees, fire officials said.

Two firefighters suffered non-life-threatening injuries on Monday.

Avenue 66 was closed between Tyler and East Harrison streets, and a mobile home park was evacuated on Monday. An evacuation center was set up nearby at Desert Mirage High School and was later moved to Coachella Valley High School in Thermal, but the evacuation order was lifted at 6 p.m. Monday, Fuhrman said.

A Sun Bus Transit Agency coach with air conditioning was sent to the scene to provide a place for firefighters to recover and escape the heat, she said.