Firefighters are still battling the massive Fairview Fire in Riverside County, which continues to burn thousands of acres near Hemet and is now moving rapidly toward Temecula.
As of Friday morning, the wildfire stands at 27,319 hectares in total and is still only 5% contained.
A flash flood warning and high wind warning are in place for the fire area as Tropical Storm Kay moves up the coast of Baja California and approaches Southern California.
The massive wildfire first broke out shortly after 3.30pm on Monday and has killed at least two people in less than 24 hours. By Wednesday morning, it had burned about 5,000 acres, and by Wednesday night, it had exploded to more than 18,000 acres, with fire crews containing 5 percent of the fire.
The official cause of the fire is still unknown, but Southern California Edison said Wednesday it is investigating circuit activity around the time the fire started.
evacuations
The Riverside Fire Department along with CAL Fire have issued an evacuation order for several areas. The following is where evacuation orders were in effect as of 7 p.m. Thursday, with no updates as of 6 a.m. Friday.
Click here for an updated list of evacuation orders and advisories.
- South Thornton Avenue,
- North of Polly Butte Road,
- west of Fairview,
- East of State Street,
- South of Thornton Avenue,
- North of Polly Butte Road,
- West of Fairview Avenue,
- East of State Street,
- East of State Street,
- west of Fairview,
- South of Stetson Avenue,
- North of McSweeny Parkway.
- East of State Street,
- West of Fairview Avenue,
- South of Stetson Avenue,
- North of McSweeny Parkway.
- South of McSweeney Road north of Cactus Valley to the end of that street,
- East of State Street,
- South of Stetson Ave.
- North of Cactus Valley Road,
- West of Fairview Avenue, Bautista Canyon Road,
- South of Stetson,
- North of Two Streams Fork Trailhead, Bautista Canyon Road,
- South of Stetson,
- North of the Two Streams Fork trailhead
- Thomas Mountain Ridge south to Cactus Valley to Bautista to Forest Boundary,
- South of Cactus Valley Road,
- North of Minto Way,
- North of Red Mountain Road,
- West of the US Forest Service boundary and east of Sage Road,
- East Red Mountain Road and Cahuilla Mountain to USFS,
- South Minto,
- South Red Mountain Road,
- West Stanley Road,
- North Stanley Road,
- West of Wilson Way,
- South of Highway 74,
- East of Fairview Avenue,
- North of Stetson Road,
- South of Minto Way,
- South of Red Mountain Road,
- West of Stanley Road,
- North of Stanley Road,
- East of Sage Road
- South of Diamond Valley Lake,
- East of Washington Street
- North of the Borel road,
- East of Rancho California Road
- East of Anza Road
- North of Temecula Parkway (Hwy 79)
- Northwest of Highway 371,
- West of Springbrook Road.
An evacuation center has been set up at Tahquitz High School in Hemet, located at 2245 Titan Trail.
Evacuees gathering at Tahquitz High School can bring their small animals with them. Animal services will help you with your small animals.
About the Fairview Fire
The Fairview fire was first reported around 3:37 pm Monday as a brush fire on Fairview Ave. and Bautista Road.
Wind traveling in unexpected directions for the time of year caused the fire to spread quickly through Avery Canyon.
At least two people have died trying to escape the Fairview fire. Family told NBCLA that father and daughter Ian Matthew Compton and Mikayla Porter were the two individuals overtaken by the fire as it quickly moved through Avery Canyon.
A third person, Ian Compton’s wife according to the family, is in hospital with serious injuries.
The two people who died in the Fairview fire in Hemet have been identified as a father and daughter. The mother was also seriously injured while trying to avoid the fire.
At least seven structures have been destroyed, and a number of other structures have been damaged. More information on damaged and destroyed buildings is expected later Tuesday.
By Tuesday morning, the fire was at 2,400 acres, and by Tuesday evening, it had doubled to 4,500 acres.
The Eastern Municipal Water District issued a boil water advisory for “residents of fire-affected areas east of Hemet.”
About 50 homes in the area, including all of Polly Butte Road and the area east of 41477 Gibbel Road, should “use only boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking and cooking as a safety precaution to prevent illness stomach or intestinal problems”, until further notice. .
All Hemet Unified School District schools have been closed since Tuesday due to the fire.
Over the course of Wednesday, the fire quadrupled in size from 5,000 acres in the early morning to 18,657 acres by evening.
On Thursday, the fire quickly grew again, increasing to an estimated total of 27,319 acres.
Southern California Edison is investigating how the fire may have started and released a statement about its investigation.
“Our information reflects circuit activity that occurred near the reported time of the fire,” the statement read in part. “With safety as our number one priority, we continue to move forward in our wildfire mitigation efforts.”
A brutal week-long heat wave in Southern California hasn’t helped the state’s dry conditions that contributed to the rapid growth of wildfires.
Fuel moisture levels are well below historical averages in parts of Southern California, meaning vegetation is drying out faster this year. Dry vegetation is an important factor in the spread of wildfires.
The state emerged from one of the driest recent winters on record, leaving hillsides covered in dry scrub.
California continues to face longer wildfire seasons as a direct result of climate change, according to CAL FIRE.