Evacuation orders were downgraded Friday and a highway was completely reopened through the area where a roughly 2,500-acre wildfire erupted earlier this week.
According to the Riverside County Fire Department, evacuation orders now only apply to the perimeter of the Highland Fire, leaving the rest of the impacted area under an ongoing evacuation “warning,” which means residents can stay in their homes but should remain alert.
The warning area was described as follows:
— north of the San Diego County line, south of Cottonwood School Road, east of Crosley Truck Trail and west of Sorenson Road.
Early Friday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol completely reopened Highway 79 to traffic, and Highway 371 was reopened with CHP escorts for residents only.
Air operations were officially terminated Thursday. The blaze was 50% contained as of Friday morning, with revised figures expected Friday night.
The fire started about 12:40 p.m. Monday in the area of Highlands and Aguanga Ranchos roads, near the junction of Highways 79 and 371. It has burned 2,487 acres — a number that hasn’t changed since Tuesday morning.
A public safety power shutoff — during which transmission lines are de-energized — requested by fire personnel during the first hours of the fire along Highway 79 ended at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Winds were not a factor Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.
Two firefighters were reported injured.
Sixteen structures, including three homes, were either damaged or destroyed by the fire, and there were 1,500 structures threatened, according to officials.
GoFundMe accounts were established for those who suffered property losses. They are at the following links:
— www.gofundme.com/f/mike-doehr-lost-everything-from-a-wildfire;
— www.gofundme.com/f/single-dad-of-2-girls-lost-home-to-wild-fire; and
— www.gofundme.com/f/6vf2y-home-destroyed.
Roughly 4,000 residents were under evacuation orders or warnings.
An interactive map on evacuation orders was available at www.linktr.ee/calfirerru. Evacuation orders remain in place for the following:
— south of Sage Road, north of Cottonwood Creek, between Becker Lane and Boulder Vista;
— south of Highway 371, west of Sorenson Road and north of San Diego County Line Road;
— north of David Street, south of Pueblo Road, between Vail Lake Resort and Shirley Way; and
— south of Highway 79, north of the San Diego County line, between Forest Route 8S07 and Crosley Truck Trail.
About 1,000 firefighters were working to shore up containment lines.
The blaze started near a residence, but the exact cause was under investigation.