Firefighters working the Fairview Fire near Hemet continued to make steady progress this week, benefitting from higher humidity and some rain. Officials now say full containment is expected by Friday, Sept. 17.
Authorities said they no longer expect and fire growth and all evacuation orders were lifted Wednesday.
The wildfire broke Sept. 5 and spread rapidly, killing two people and injuring a third in its early stages. On Saturday, three people aboard a helicopter assisting in fire operations were injured when the privately-owned chopper crashed.
Origins: The fire began shortly after 3:30 p.m. on Monday at Bautista Rd. and Fairview Ave. south of Hemet
When the fire broke out Monday, wind pushed the fire west, which fire officials noted as the opposite direction they'd expect for this time of year. That took it to Avery Canyon, where it rapidly spread. Officials said it appeared that civilians in that canyon attempted to flee, but were overcome by the fire.
The remains of two victims were found in a vehicle in the burn zone on Avery Canyon Road. Officials said those victims have not yet been identified.
A third person, who officials have identified only as an adult female, was also severely burned but is expected to survive. Officials said it appears all three victims were from the same family.
The cause of the fire is under investigation. According to a document filed by Southern California Edison, the utility company is trying to determine if its electrical equipment may have sparked the blaze.
"Our information reflects circuit activity occurred close in time to the report time of the fire," the document states. "The investigation is ongoing."
Thousands of residents were forced to evacuate after a series of orders and warnings from emergency officials. By Wednesday, Sept. 14, those orders were lifted. Here's at the areas that had been under mandatory evacuations are in place (in red), along with warning zones (in yellow). Red Xs mark road closures.
Hemet Unified School District campuses reopened Monday after being closed for a couple of days the previous week.
