New evacuation orders as the Fairview Fire approaches 10,000 acres in size.
New evacuation orders as the Fairview Fire approaches 10,000 acres in size. 00:31
As of Wednesday evening, the Fairview Fire in Hemet had grown to 19,374 acres and was only 5% contained. Firefighters with the Riverside County Fire Department continue to battle the blaze.
On Wednesday alone, the extent of the fire roughly tripled from the initial estimate of about 5,000 acres.
Authorities reported that two occupants perished while attempting to escape the blaze, and a third was carried to the hospital with severe burns to the arms, back, and face. The three individuals were attempting to escape the blaze in the same vehicle.
Multiple individuals who were engulfed in flames on Gibbel Road were rescued by fire services.
Numerous structures have been damaged, including seven that have been completely demolished. Additionally, officials estimate that 5,000 structures are threatened by the blaze. Close to 1,500 residences have been evacuated.
Monday at around 3:37 p.m., the Fairview Fire broke out and quickly consumed light to medium vegetation at Fairview Avenue and Bautista Road.
In the foothills of Hemet Valley, south of Thornton Avenue, north of Polly Butte Road, west of Fairview Avenue, and east of State Street, mandatory evacuations have been issued. Later, evacuation orders were expanded to encompass areas to the south of Stetson, to the north of Cactus Valley Road, to the west of Fairview Avenue, and to the east of State Street.
Tuesday afternoon, Cal Fire updated its evacuation orders to cover Thomas Mountain Ridge South, Cactus Valley, Bautista Canyon, and the forest boundary.
In addition, it issued evacuation notices south of Highway 74 to Thomas Mountain, west of Mountain Center, north of Cactus Valley Anza, north of Highway 371 to the Forestry Boundary, and south of Cactus Valley Road, east of Sage Road, north of Red Mountain Road, and west of Bautista Canyon in Sage.
At Tahquitz High School, located at 4425 Titan Trail, a care and receiving area for evacuees was built.
According to the Riverside County Fire Department’s website, 33 engine companies, six air tankers, and four helicopters fought the fire.
As a result of the fire, Hemet Unified School District officials have announced that campuses would stay closed on Wednesday and until further notice.
Tuesday, Southern California Edison alerted the California Public Utilities Commission that “circuit activity” happened about the time the Fairview Fire began.
UPDATE ON THE #FAIRVIEWFIRE: The fire has burned 2,000 acres and is 5 percent contained. pic.twitter.com/FrykUX7sqU
September 6, 2022 — CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU)
Wildfire Report:3:37 p.m. Fairview Avenue and Bautista Road in the Hemet county region. Twenty acres of light to medium vegetation are burning rapidly. There are no evacuations. #fairviewFIRE picture from Twitter: gcEgIDHcjH
5 September 2022 — CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU)
Dozens of households on Polly Butte Road and east of 41477 Gibbel Road have been given a boil water advisory by water officials.