Silver fire: 3 people hurt, homes destroyed, 5,000 acres burned

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A DC-10 tanker drops retardant ahead of the fire line on the mountains above Snow Creek Village near Cabazon as the 16,000-acre Silver fire in Riverside County continues to burn. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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An inmate fire crew from Northern California awaits orders in Snow Creek Village near Cabazon before scaling the mountain in the background. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Snow Creek Village resident Keith Jackson rakes up the debris after firefighters cleared the combustible vegetation around his home. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Inmate fire crews are led to the front lines by a Cal Fire captain above Snow Creek Village near Cabazon. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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The Silver fire burns east toward wind turbines and a view of Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A tree burns amid scorched property along Highway 243 in Riverside County. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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Property, buildings and machinery lie in ruin along Twin Pines Road in Riverside County. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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At sunset, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighter hand crews from Miramonte knock down part of the Silver fire. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection firefighter from Miramonte sports a smile after fighting the blaze in an area along Highway 243. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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The fast-moving Silver fire pushes east toward a view of Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa in Cabazon. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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The Silver fire that has scorched more than 10,000 acres in Riverside County rages east toward wind turbines and the desert. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter keeps a close eye on swirling embers while battling the Silver fire. The fire had destroyed at least 12 structures Wednesday night. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters work into the night to try to control the Silver fire, which has burned more than the 6,000 acres and forced the evacuations of communities near Poppet Flats, south of Banning, on Wednesday. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Flames from the Silver fire burn close to Highway 243 south of Banning. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Flames from the Silver fire burn into the evening as crews try to get a handle on the blaze that has forced the evacuation of several communities. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

By Ari Bloomekatz and Jason Wells

Aug. 7, 2013 8:30 PM PT

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<i>This post has been updated</i>

Two firefighters were hurt along with one civilian Wednesday, as destructive wildfire consumed more than 5,000 acres and destroyed an undetermined number of buildings and homes.

Cal Fire confirmed the injuries but provided no other details. KTLA News reported that one of the firefighters suffered burns and was airlifted to a hospital.

The Silver fire began shortly after 2 p.m. around Poppet Flats Road near Highway 243, south of Banning.

Cal Fire reported “multiple structures involved” in Twin Pines, and television footage showed other homes and buildings on fire in nearby Poppet Flats.

Mandatory evacuations were in place for the communities of Poppet Flats, Twin Pines and Silent Valley. Highway 243 was closed and evacuation centers set up at Hemet High School and Beaumont High School.

Cal Fire spokesman Daniel Berlant said incident commanders had a “significant number of fire engines that are assigned to structure defense,” but it was unclear how successful those defensive maneuvers have been.

Early Wednesday evening, the fire remained 0% contained as more than 450 people were on scene to fight the blaze.

[Update: 9:21 p.m.] Cal Fire spokesman Berlant said the two injured firefighters were taken by ground transport for treatment. A civilian was airlifted.

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