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Full containment on the horizon for Holy Fire

Published August 20, 2018 11:49 AM

Firefighters focused on dousing hot spots today and expect to have the Holy Fire burning in Riverside and Orange counties fully contained by Tuesday, authorities said.

The blaze has charred 22,886 acres of the Cleveland National Forest and was last reported as 92 percent contained, fire officials said. It destroyed 12 homes in Orange County and six in Riverside County since it erupted about 1:30 p.m. on Aug. 6 near Holy Jim and Trabuco Creek roads, Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Tony Bommarito said.

Crews continued to mop up the burn areas and extend containment lines as the army of firefighters was reduced to about 550, fire officials said.

All evacuations were lifted Wednesday, but all recreational areas and campgrounds in the fire area in Riverside County remained closed, including Blue Jay and Falcon Campgrounds, as well as areas north of Ortega (74) Highway and south of Blackstar Canyon Road and Skyline Drive.

The Lake Elsinore Unified School District and schools in the Corona-Norco Unified School District located south of the 91 Freeway and east of Border Avenue in Corona will resume classes today after delaying the start of their school year one week due to the fire.