Fact Check: Evacuations ordered for nearly all of Banning and Cabazon areas
What We Know
On June 29, 2025, a significant brush fire known as the Wolf Fire was reported near Banning, California. The fire quickly grew to approximately 1,165 acres, prompting evacuation orders for residents in the Banning and Cabazon areas. According to Cal Fire, evacuation orders were specifically issued for regions east of Highland Springs Avenue, west of Old Cabazon Road, north of Poppet Flat Divide Truck Trail, and south of Interstate 10. Additionally, evacuation warnings were in effect for areas east of Bergamo Avenue, west of South San Gorgonio Avenue, north of Poppet Flats Trail, and south of Highland Springs Avenue.
As of 6 p.m. on the same day, nearly all areas south of Interstate 10 in Banning and Cabazon were under evacuation orders or warnings, indicating a widespread response to the fire threat (ABC7, CBS News). Shelters were established for displaced residents at Hemet High School and for animals at the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus (Desert Sun).
Analysis
The claim that evacuations were ordered for nearly all of Banning and Cabazon is supported by multiple credible sources. The Desert Sun and ABC7 both confirm that evacuation orders were indeed in place for almost all areas south of Interstate 10, which encompasses a significant portion of both Banning and Cabazon. The specificity of the evacuation zones provided by Cal Fire lends further credibility to these reports, as they detail the exact boundaries of the evacuation orders and warnings.
Moreover, the urgency of the situation is underscored by the rapid spread of the fire and the deployment of extensive firefighting resources, including hundreds of personnel and multiple fire engines (CBS News). The information provided is consistent across various news outlets, which is a strong indicator of reliability.
While the sources reporting on the evacuations are generally reputable, it is important to note that local news outlets may have varying degrees of coverage depth and accuracy. However, the convergence of reports from multiple outlets, including those with direct access to official statements from Cal Fire, strengthens the overall reliability of the information.
Conclusion
The claim that evacuations were ordered for nearly all of Banning and Cabazon areas is True. The evidence from multiple credible sources confirms that evacuation orders and warnings were indeed issued for these areas in response to the Wolf Fire, which posed a significant threat to the safety of residents.
