Home In My City Hemet/San Jacinto UPDATE: Storm system helps crews slow spread of deadly fire southeast of...

UPDATE: Storm system helps crews slow spread of deadly fire southeast of Hemet

September 9, 2022

Firefighters attempt to subdue fast-moving flames along Bautista Canyon Road during the Fairview Fire. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo

HEMET – Rain generated by the remnants of Tropical Storm Kay off the southwestern coast helped fire crews slow the spread of the deadly Fairview Fire burning southeast of Hemet today, allowing authorities to reduce
some evacuation orders from mandatory to voluntary.
Fire officials warned, however, that the “much-need precipitation,” combined with high winds and heat can still lead to unpredictable fire behavior, so residents being allowed to return to their homes were “highly encouraged to remain alert during this dynamic incident.”
The onset of stormy weather prompted incident commanders to pull Cal Fire aircraft out of the firefighting operation late Friday morning, according to reports from the scene.
The National Weather Service had issued a flood watch and a high wind warning for the area, with authorities saying as much as 7 inches of rain could fall in the area before the storms dissipate, raising the likelihood of flash floods, mud and debris flows. The inclement weather was due to Tropical Storm Kay, which had been a hurricane before hitting the Baja peninsula in Mexico.
“Based on forecasts, this appears to be a dangerous storm,” county Emergency Management Department Director Bruce Barton said, urging motorists to take precautions and not attempt to cross flooded roads.
The Weather Service predicted gusts of 55 mph in the valleys and 75 mph in the mountains and deserts.
Sandbags are available at fire stations and hardware stores in Riverside County.
Cal Fire officials have said they hope to have the fire contained by early next week, an objective that appeared more feasible with the arrival of rain.
By 7 a.m. Friday, officials said the fire had grown to 27,463 acres, but remained 5% contained — a figure that hasn’t changed since Monday.

At 1 p.m. Thursday, Cal Fire announced that the area east of De Portola Road, west of Sage Road, north of East Benton Road and south of Diamond Valley Road was under a mandatory evacuation.
Around the same time, a new evacuation warning was posted south of Rawson Road, east of Washington Street and Anza Road, west of Highway 74 and north of Highways 79 and 371, where residents were advised to be prepared to leave should conditions change for the worse.
Mandatory evacuations remained in place for residents south of Cactus Valley Road, north of Minto Way, north of Red Mountain Road, west of the U.S. Forest Service boundary and east of Sage, west of Wilson Way, south of Highway 74, east of Fairview Avenue, north of Stetson Avenue, south of Minto, south of Red Mountain, west and north of Stanley Road and east of Sage.
Other evacuation warnings were active for those living west of Reed Valley Road and west of the USFS boundary, south of Stanley and north of Wilson Valley Road.
Late Friday afternoon, with the pace of the fire slowing, fire officials reduced mandatory evacuation orders to voluntary warnings for the area south of Diamond Valley Lake, east of Washington Street, north of Borel Road, east of Rancho Califonria Road, east of Anza Road north of Temecula Parkway, northwest of Highway 371 and west of Highway 74. Evacuation orders were also made voluntary for the Ramona Village community and Olivet
University.
Highway 74 in the San Bernardino National Forest was fully closed between Mountain Center and Borco Street, which is in Valle Vista.
The Fairview Fire was reported shortly after 2 p.m. Monday on Fairview Avenue and Bautista Road.
Cal Fire Battalion Chief Josh Janssen said firefighters were strategically dispersed Wednesday, following a day that saw the flames “outpace our efforts.” Cal Fire established unified command with the USFS Wednesday.
The Riverside County Emergency Management Department declared a local emergency Wednesday due to the fire, enabling 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 earlier this week.
Officials said the fire resulted in two civilian fatalities and one civilian burn injury. Sheriff’s officials confirmed Wednesday the two deceased victims were found inside 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 have not been formally identified by authorities, but friends identified them to reporters as Ian Compton and his autistic daughter Mikayla Porter. Friends said their family pets were also killed. Compton’s wife, Tina, was severely burned and remains hospitalized.
A sheriff’s official said Wednesday the woman, who was found outside the vehicle on Avery Canyon Road, is expected to survive.
At least seven buildings have been destroyed and several more were damaged. Friends said the Comptons’ home was among the structures destroyed.
Evacuation centers were set up at Tahquitz High School in Hemet, Temecula Valley High School and the Temecula Community Center.
The Department of Animal Services said the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus was accepting large and small domestic creatures for safekeeping. Livestock were being cared for at the Perris Fairgrounds.
All fees for retaining pets will be waived under the county emergency order, agency spokesman John Welsh said.
The cause of the fire was 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.

Fairview fire burns 27000 acres, more evacuations ordered including Lake Riverside Estates

UPDATE: 9-9-22 12 am

HEMET – Additional evacuations were ordered today on the front lines of the deadly Fairview Fire southeast of Hemet, now over 27,000 acres, but expanding at a slower rate, with containment possible early next week.
The Riverside County Fire Department reported about 8 p.m. that the fire had grown to 27,319 acres and remains 5% contained — a figure that hasn’t changed since Monday.
At 1 p.m. Thursday, Cal Fire announced that the area east of De Portola Road, west of Sage Road, north of East Benton Road and south of Diamond Valley Road was under a mandatory evacuation.
Around the same time, a new evacuation warning was posted south of Rawson Road, east of Washington Street and Anza Road, west of Highway 74 and north of Highways 79 and 371, where residents were advised to be prepared to leave should conditions change for the worse.

According to Valley News employee Diane Sieker, the Sheriffs department, over a load speaker has been asking residents of Lake Riverside Estates to evacuate.

UPDATE 9-9-22 4 pm

Fairview fire burns 23919 acres, full containment possibly Monday

HEMET (CNS) – More residents near the deadly Fairview Fire near Hemet were under evacuation orders today as the deadly wildfire’s size was listed at 23,919 acres, with an “expected full containment” date listed by authorities as Monday.

Meanwhile, the containment remained the same at 5%, despite a stepped-up response by firefighters struggling to slow the speed of the flames’ advance. The size of the fire was listed at 18,657 acres as of 7 a.m. Thursday by fire officials — meaning the blaze tripled in size over the previous 24 hours.

A firefighter gives a dog some water. Valley News/Ryan Ponitz photo

As of 7 a.m. Thursday, evacuations orders were in place for residents 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.

An expanded evacuation order had been issued by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection at 11:45 p.m. Wednesday for residents south of Minto Road, south of Red Mountain Road, west of Stanley Road, north of Stanley Road, and east of Sage Road.

Evacuation warnings also were issued for those living west of Reed Valley Road and west of the forest service boundary, south of Stanley Road, and north of Wilson Valley Road.

They were also issued for that east of De Portola Road, west of Sage Road, north of East Benton Road, and south of Diamond Valley Road.

The Department of Motor Vehicles in Hemet is temporarily closed today because of the fire. Driver test appointments are being rerouted to Temecula and Banning departments. The Fairview Fire was reported shortly after 2 p.m. Monday on Fairview Avenue and Bautista Road and began spreading rapidly. By Wednesday morning, the blaze was mapped 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.

Cal Fire issued evacuation orders Wednesday night for residents west of Wilson Way, south of Highway 74, east of Fairview Avenue, and north of Stetson Avenue. Evacuation warnings were issued to residents east of Fairview Avenue, south of the San Jacinto Riverbed, and east of Wilson Way.

Additionally, Highway 74 was fully closed between Mountain Center and Borco Street.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Josh Janssen said firefighters were strategically dispersed Wednesday, following a day that saw the flames “outpace our efforts.”

The blaze was pushing into the San Bernardino National Forest, and on Tuesday, Cal Fire established unified command with the U.S. Forest Service.

Janssen expressed hope Wednesday morning the tactical realignment would allow crews to get a better handle on the fire, which he said was burning with active flames on all sides.

Cal Fire and Forest Service personnel had a community meeting Wednesday at the Garner Valley Fire Station in Mountain Center. Despite the efforts, however, the fire nearly doubled in size between Wednesday morning and Wednesday afternoon.

Evacuations were previously issued Wednesday afternoon for residents south of Cactus Valley Road, north of Minto Way, north of Red Mountain Road, west of the national forest boundary, and east of Sage Road.

Mandatory evacuation orders remain in place for a wide area south of Stetson Avenue, north of Cactus Valley Road, west of Bautista Canyon, and east of State Street.

Evacuation warnings were posted Wednesday afternoon for the area beginning east of Red Mountain Road and the forest service boundary, south to Minto, south to Red Mountain, west of Stanley Road, and east of Sage Road.

Additional evacuations were later ordered south of Cactus Valley Road and east
to Thomas Mountain Ridge.

Evacuation warnings were extended east into the Mountain Center area, with warnings in place along Highway 74. Warnings were also issued north of Highway 371 in the Cahuilla Indian Reservation and Anza.

Hemet Unified School District campuses remained closed Wednesday.

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.

A temporary flight restriction was established directly over the fire, barring civilian aircraft from coming within a 15-mile ring, from Hemet to Lake Hemet, well inside the San Bernardino National Forest.

Officials said the fire resulted in two civilian fatalities and one civilian burn injury. Sheriff’s officials confirmed Wednesday the two deceased victims were found inside 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 have not been formally identified by authorities, but friends identified them to CBS2 as Ian Compton, 40, and his 27-year-old autistic daughter Mikayla Porter. Friends said their family pets were also killed. Compton’s wife, Tina, was severely burned and remains hospitalized with third-degree burns to her legs and arms, friends said.

A sheriff’s official said Wednesday the injured woman, who was found outside the vehicle on Avery Canyon Road, is expected to survive. A GoFundMe page established on behalf of the Compton family had raised more than $11,000 as of Thursday morning.

At least seven buildings have been destroyed and several more were damaged. Friends said the Comptons’ home was among the structures destroyed.

More than 1,500 homes were affected by the evacuation orders earlier Tuesday. It was unclear how many more were added to the total when orders were expanded later in the day.

An evacuation center was set up at Tahquitz High School in Hemet.

All fees for retaining pets will be waived under the county emergency order, agency spokesman John Welsh said.

Animal control officers have been patrolling the evacuation zone to search for stranded animals. No horses have been impounded, but “an officer provided water and food for a potbellied pig, and another officer provided water for a herd of goats,” Welsh said.
According to Caltrans, the following corridors were closed to southbound traffic in East Hemet: Stanford Street, Dartmouth Street, Cornell Street, Aurora Drive, Columbia Street, Yale Street, Girard Street, San Jacinto Street, Santa Fe Street, Meridian Street, Hemet Street, Lake Street, and Fairview Avenue.

The cause of the fire was 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.

HEMET (CNS) – More residents near the deadly Fairview Fire near Hemet were under evacuation orders today as the deadly wildfire’s size was listed at 18,657 acres, with an “expected full containment” date listed by authorities as Monday.

Meanwhile, the containment remained the same at 5%, despite a stepped- up response by firefighters struggling to slow the speed of the flames’ advance. The size of the fire was listed at 18,657 acres as of 7 a.m. Thursday by fire officials — meaning the blaze tripled in size over the previous 24 hours.

Click here for all updated evacuation orders from RCFD

Evacuation orders (red) and evacuation warnings (yellow) that are currently in place due to Fairview Fire.
Photo credit: Google Maps/Riverside County Fire Department

Evacuation warnings also were issued for those living west of Reed Valley Road and west of the forest service boundary, south of Stanley Road and north of Wilson Valley Road.

They 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.

The Department of Motor Vehicles in Hemet is temporarily closed today because of the fire. Driver test appointments are being rerouted to Temecula and Banning departments.

The Fairview Fire was reported shortly after 2 p.m. Monday on Fairview Avenue and Bautista Road, and began spreading rapidly. By Wednesday morning, the blaze was mapped 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.

Containment was holding at 5%, the same percentage it has been since Monday evening.

Cal Fire issued evacuation orders Wednesday night for residents west of Wilson Way, south of Highway 74, east of Fairview Avenue and north of Stetson Avenue. Evacuation warnings were issued to residents east of Fairview Avenue, south of the San Jacinto Riverbed and east of Wilson Way.

Additionally, Highway 74 was fully closed between Mountain Center and Borco Street.

A monster wildfire raging around Hemet in Riverside County had engulfed 19,377 acres by late on Wednesday, almost twice the figure recorded earlier in the day, according to the Riverside County Fire Department (RCFD). Valley News/Ryan Ponitz photo

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Josh Janssen said firefighters were strategically dispersed Wednesday, following a day that saw the flames “outpace our efforts.”

The blaze was pushing into the San Bernardino National Forest, and on Tuesday, Cal Fire established unified command with the U.S. Forest Service. Janssen expressed hope Wednesday morning the tactical realignment would allow crews to get a better handle on the fire, which he said was burning with active flames on all sides.

Cal Fire and Forest Service personnel had a community meeting Wednesday at the Garner Valley Fire Station in Mountain Center.

Despite the efforts, however, the fire nearly doubled in size between Wednesday morning and Wednesday afternoon.

Mandatory evacuation orders remain in place for a wide area south of Stetson Avenue, north of Cactus Valley Road, west of Bautista Canyon and east
of State Street.

A warning issued Monday for Bautista Canyon Road, south of Stetson and north of the Two Streams Fork trailhead, was converted to a mandatory evacuation Tuesday due to the proximity of flames to homes in the area. Additional evacuations were later ordered south of Cactus Valley Road and east to Thomas Mountain Ridge.

Hemet Unified School District campuses remained closed Wednesday.

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

At least seven buildings have been destroyed and several more were damaged. Friends said the Comptons’ home was among the structures destroyed.

More than 1,500 homes were affected by the evacuation orders earlier Tuesday. It was unclear how many more were added to the total when orders were expanded later in the day.

An evacuation center was set up at Tahquitz High School in Hemet.

Firefighters battle the Fairview Fire as it burns and attempts to jump Bautista Road southeast of Hemet, Sept. 7. The wildfire has now swelled to nearly 10,000 acres. Valley News/Shane Gibson photo

The Department of Animal Services said the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus was accepting large and small domestic creatures, including livestock, for safekeeping. As of Monday night, 12 dogs, six cats and a pet rabbit were placed in the facility.All fees for retaining pets will be waived under the county emergency order, agency spokesman John Welsh said.

According to Caltrans, the following corridors were closed to southbound traffic in East Hemet: Stanford Street, Dartmouth Street, Cornell Street, Aurora Drive, Columbia Street, Yale Street, Girard Street, San Jacinto Street, Santa Fe Street, Meridian Street, Hemet Street, Lake Street and Fairview Avenue.