June 01--Firefighters in the Coachella Valley plan on working into the night Monday as they battle a brush fire that has grown to 75 acres, authorities said.
The fire was first reported shortly after 10 a.m. and swiftly spread through the dense vegetation near Avenue 66 and Harrison Street in Thermal, according to Cal Fire spokesman Capt. Lucas Spelman.
The blaze mostly stopped spreading in the late afternoon, but temperatures of up to 115 degrees have slowed the 60 firefighters on scene.
"We have to make sure the [firefighters] stay hydrated," Spelman said. Officials plan to intensify the fire fight once night falls.
About 20 nearby homes have been evacuated as a precaution and local officials set up an evacuation center at Coachella Valley High School.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, Spelman said.
