Update: Ben Fire in Imperial County - May 17 status

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Updated: 10:24 a.m. May 17

First discovered: 5 days ago, 5:38 p.m. May 12

Initial location: Imperial County, Calif.

Fire type: Wildfire

Fire name: Ben

Ben Fire initially started 5:38 p.m. May 12 at in Imperial County, California.

It has been burning on federal land managed by the Bureau of Land Management for five days. At this time, the containment status is unknown and the cause of the fire remains undetermined.

Source: National Interagency Fire Center

United Robots Sacramento

This story was originally published May 17, 2026 at 10:57 AM.