Hathaway Fire 83 percent contained at 3,823 acres

Firefighters continue to make slow but steady progressas they inch their way toward full containment of the Hathaway fire in the SanGorgonio Wilderness east of Banning.

At last report, the fire was 83 percent contained, having scorched 3,823acres, the U.S. Forest Service reported.

The blaze broke out in the northern part of the Morongo IndianReservation shortly before noon on June 9. Since then, 10 non-serious injurieshave been reported involving fire personnel, according to the Forest Service.

The containment lines that crews have been carving around the blaze havesteadily stretched in recent days; containment was at 63 percent on Sunday.The Forest Service projects full containment on June 25.

With no structures reported threatened by the blaze, 596 firefightersremained on the fire lines as of 6 Wednesday night.

The fire has been burning in a steep, remote area that is difficult toaccess. It has been fueled in part by dead trees — the result of the 1999-2004drought, plus bark beetle infestation.

The San Gorgonio Wilderness area, including trails, remains open.