AGUANGA, Calif. (KABC) -- The Nixon Fire that broke out in Riverside County has quickly grown to more than 5,000 acres, triggering evacuation orders in some communities and destroying at least one structure.
The fire spread to more than 5,000 acres Thursday, but firefighters are making progress.
Containment is hovering around 21%, which is up from Thursday night's 14%.
All evacuation orders and warnings remain in place.
Firefighters are still struggling to contain the fire due to the steep terrain and remote area, but crews are now getting help from the Glendale Fire Department.
The brush fire south of Highway 371 in Aguanga has grown to over 4,900 acres Wednesday, burning into a federal preserve along the boundary separating Riverside and San Diego counties with 5% containment but no further immediate threat to homes or other structures.
The Nixon Fire was reported at 12:28 p.m. Monday in the area of Richard Nixon Boulevard and Tule Peak Road, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
The agency said numerous engine and hand crews -- numbering over 250 personnel -- from the county, Cal Fire-San Diego County and other agencies were sent to the location and encountered flames burning at a "dangerous rate" to the southeast through medium brush.
"Over the next three days, a change in the weather pattern shows an increasing chance of thunderstorms and lightning activity, firefighters will continue to work aggressively to gain additional control. Residents within the fire area are reminded to pay attention to evacuation warnings and orders," Cal Fire and the Riverside County Fire Department said in a joint statement.
As of Tuesday morning, the head of the fire was well inside the Beauty Mountain Wilderness, near Iron Spring Mountain, maintained and protected by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
According to Cal Fire officials, the flames scorched more than 4,900 acres as of 8 a.m. Wednesday as firefighters continued efforts to stop the fire's progression throughout the night.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
According to fire officials, access and terrain are two of the biggest challenges when it comes to fighting the fire.
The afternoon winds on Tuesday were also a cause for concern.
"It's up in the hills, it's a rural area, pretty steep terrain, and the fuel growth is pretty good, too, as well, so steep, rocky, dry," said Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Capt. Christian Linnemann.
As of Tuesday, the fire was still at 0% containment.
The Nixon Fire has burned through a primarily rural area, just ranches and other spread out properties.
There are close to 900 homes in the evacuation zone, which means about 3,000 people have been ordered to leave. Firefighters have been able to save many homes, but not all of them.
"This morning, I wake up and realize, I'm a homeless person now ... totally homeless," said Victoria Dang, whose home on Bonny Lane was destroyed.
She said the fire move through area fast on Monday.
"It's really scary, it's fast, you never know, the wind would go different directions, too," she said.
Plus, many homeowners, including Dang, don't have home insurance.
"The problem is I could not insure the property because out here, they canceled all the policies," she said. "The way that Buddha teaches me, it comes and it goes. Today, you have everything, and tomorrow, you have nothing."
