Weekend rains could help contain Fairview Fire; Highway 74 closed to most traffic from Coachella Valley

As firefighters worked to contain the deadly Fairview Fire near Hemet, they looked to a weekend weather forecast holding both promise and peril. Friday and Saturday are expected to bring both high winds, which could again hamper firefighting efforts, and rain, which could help.

Fire officials said they expect "full containment" by Monday, Sept. 12.

The California Highway Patrol set up a checkpoint Thursday evening on Highway 74 to  keep people from using the road to get from the Coachella Valley to Hemet, Temecula or San Diego. Those who need to get to their homes need to provide proof of residency to get farther south than Bighorn Country Club on the outskirts of Palm Desert.

CalFire spokesperson Marco Rodriguez said the fire was driven by winds that shifted erratically throughout Wednesday.

"We've seen winds go west, east and south, so it's been moving erratically and unpredictably," he said. "There are also canyons that drive that wind, so we've seen the fire being driven up the canyons."

Justin McGough, Riverside County Fire Department day operations branch chief, said in a mid-day briefing on Thursday that crews were working at the northeast corner of the fire to prevent flames from jumping Highway 74 in an effort to protect the Idyllwild area, along with Mountain Center and Garner Valley.

While Temecula and other nearby areas received some rain Wednesday night, the area where the fire was burning remained dry, McGough added. But he said there was lightning at the fire scene around 7 a.m. Thursday, and it's expected to be a factor heading into the weekend.

Rodriguez said there was hope that the firefighters would be able to make progress thanks to decreased winds.

"We see the winds are backed off this morning and we are hoping to increase our detention lines so we can avoid another rapid spread like we saw last night," he said.

Rodriguez said that while Sept. 12 is the date that is being targeted for containment based on current conditions and forecasts, the fire could change rapidly as it did on Wednesday.

Evacuations still in place

CalFire issued a new evacuation order just before 5 p.m. on Thursday for the area West of Highway 74, North of 371, East of Springbrook Road, and South of the US Forest Service Boundary.

An evacuation warning was issued earlier Thursday for the area south of Rawson Road, east of Washington Street, north of Borel Road, east of Rancho California Road, east of Anza Road, north of Temecula Pkwy, northwest of Highway 371, and west of Highway 74. By Thursday evening, that approximate area was ordered evacuated.

Evacuations orders also were in place for:

• South of Cactus Valley Road, north of Minto Way, north of Red Mountain Road, west of USFS Boundary and east of Sage Road, west of Wilson Way, south of Highway 74, east of Fairview Avenue, north of Stetson, south of Minto Way, south of Red Mountain Road, west of Stanley Road, and north of Stanley Road, and east of Sage Road.

• South of Minto Road, south of Red Mountain Road, west of Stanley Road, north of Stanley Road and east of Sage Road.

• West of Reed Valley Road and west of the forest service boundary, south of Stanley Road and north of Wilson Valley Road. Warnings were also issued for those east of De Portola Road, west of Sage Road, north of East Benton Road and south of Diamond Valley Road.

An interactive map of the areas under evacuation order or warning can be found on the Riverside County Fire Department Facebook page.

A second shelter for those affected by the fire has been opened at the Temecula Community Recreation Center at 20875 Rancho Vista Road in Temecula, in addition to the center at Tahquitz High School in Hemet.

The Riverside County Emergency Management Department declared a local emergency Wednesday in response to the fire and to enable the county to apply for federal and state relief. The Board of Supervisors is slated to formally approve the proclamation during its meeting Tuesday. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency covering the fire zone Tuesday.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District extended smoke advisories to 5 p.m. Thursday because of the layers emanating from the Fairview Fire. The agency advised people in sensitive health to take precautions wherever drift smoke or ash is present.

Multiple Cal Fire air tankers and water-dropping helicopters were making runs on the brusher during daylight hours.

Officials now uncertain if structures were damaged

The Fairview Fire was reported shortly after 2 p.m. Monday at Fairview Avenue and Bautista Road and began spreading rapidly. By Wednesday morning, the blaze was at 5,000 acres and grew to more than 7,000 by 10 a.m. Its size was placed at 9,846 acres by late Wednesday afternoon and 19,377 by 10:30 p.m. Wednesday.

On Thursday evening, it was over 27,000 acres.

Two people died in the fire and one person was injured on Monday. Sheriff’s officials confirmed Wednesday the two victims were found dead in a vehicle in the 42400 block of Avery Canyon Road in East Hemet Monday, apparently overcome by the flames while trying to leave. The two victims, who have not been identified, are believed to be related.

A woman, also believed to be related to the other victims, was found severely burned outside the vehicle. She was taken to a hospital and is expected to survive, according to a sheriff’s official.

Rodriguez said that while initial reports Tuesday and Wednesday indicated that seven structures had been burned, the incident commanders now believe none have been damaged.

"We're still trying to clear that up why it was originally seven and now it is zero," Rodriguez said Thursday. "We'll have a better answer later in the day; we are trying to make sure we don't give out the wrong information."

The cause of the fire is under investigation. In a document filed with the California Public Utilities Commission, Southern California Edison reported “circuit activity” in the area close to the time the fire erupted.

Reporting from the City News Service was used in this story.

Paul Albani-Burgio covers breaking news and the City of Palm Springs. Follow him on Twitter at @albaniburgiop and via email at paul.albani-burgio@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Fairview Fire near Hemet grows; firefighters hope wind, rain will help