The Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians says a fire has burned more than 6,000 acres of its reservation in southern California.

So far, the Mountain Fire has been restricted to remote areas of the reservation. The tribe has closed two recreational areas while crews battle the blaze.

"We have been actively involved with the agencies working to minimize impact and to help protect one of our most culturally rich and historically important areas," Chairman Jeff Grubbe said in a press release. "We have been fortunate to this point because the thousands of acres of reservation land burned are located deep in the mountains without severe threat to culturally sensitive areas or human lives. We are all deeply saddened by both those who have been displaced by this unfortunate event and those who have lost homes and property."

The fire has burned more than 24,800 acres.

Get the Story:
Mountain Fire: New evacuation warning; 6,000 acres of Agua Caliente tribal lands burned (Southern California Public Radio 7/19)
Mountain Fire fight continues amid chance of storms (The Palm Springs Desert Sun 7/19)