Wildfires in California continued to rage on Wednesday, with the Juniper and Wolf fires affecting Riverside County.
The Wolf fire has been burning since Sunday afternoon, and the Juniper fire started roughly a day later on Monday morning, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Firefighters in Riverside County and elsewhere have been working nonstop to tame the blazes for the past three days, according to Newsweek.
BREAKING | Wolf Fire Grows to 1,400+ Acres
The Wolf Fire has spread to over 1,400 acres since igniting Sunday near Old Idyllwild Rd & Wolfskill Truck Trail. Evacuation orders remain in effect. Crews continue battling the blaze. Stay safe with Citizen #ProtectTheWorld pic.twitter.com/F4G2O1qNeJ
— Citizen (@CitizenApp) June 30, 2025
Here is everything you need to know about the Wolf and Juniper fires.
What caused the wildfires?
The cause of the wildfires remains unknown and is currently under investigation.
How big are the wildfires?
The Wolf fire spans 2,414 acres, while the Juniper fire spans 755 acres, according to Cal Fire. The Riverside County fire department told the Washington Examiner on Wednesday: “Last night fire crews continued working in steep terrain through the night bolstering containment lines around the fire. Today with the anticipated temperatures a few degrees cooler and slightly higher relative humidity, crews will continue mopping up and patrolling the fire line seeking out hot spots.”
How much is contained?
As of Wednesday morning, the Juniper fire is 95% contained as of Wednesday. The Wolf fire is 40% contained per The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection website.
How serious is it?
The Riverside County Fire Department has issued numerous evacuation orders for the Wolf fire since Sunday evening, according to the department’s posts on X. It also started issuing evacuation orders for the Juniper fire on Monday afternoon.
Though a large portion of the Wolf fire is still not contained, the department was optimistic Tuesday night, saying online, “Anticipated weather changes will make favorable conditions for ground forces improving and extending containment lines throughout the night.”
Three firefighters have been injured trying to contain the wildfires, but no other casualties or structural damages have been reported so far.
Are there currently any other wildfires?
The Mindy fire is also burning in Riverside County, along with two wildfires in San Bernardino County, the Sims fire in Lassen County, the Kenyon fire in Shasta County, the Quarry fire in San Joaquin County, and more, according to Newsweek. The Wolf fire is the largest of all the wildfires currently burning in California.
Past wildfires in California
CALIFORNIA ROLLS BACK STRICT ENVIRONMENTAL LAW TO ADDRESS HOUSING SHORTAGE
The state was ravaged by wildfires in January due to dry Santa Ana winds coupled with a lack of rainfall in the region for several months.
Four wildfires in Los Angeles, specifically in the Pacific Palisades, Pasadena, and Sylmar areas, prompted evacuation orders for more than 70,000 residents and killed at least five people, according to the Washington Examiner. Afterward, the state suffered economic losses and damages of between $250 and $275 billion.
