Mountain Fire 99 percent contained

The Mountain Fire was 99 percent contained today, twoweeks after it broke out due to electrical equipment failure on privateproperty northeast of Idyllwild.

Fire officials expected the 182 personnel still working the smolderingfire to fill in all of the gaps by Tuesday, according to the U.S. ForestService.

The fire has scorched 27,531 acres since it broke out July 15 anddestroyed 23 structures, including seven residences. Fighting it has cost morethan $25.6 million.

Incident commander Chris Fogle praised the work of firefighters andremained confident they would achieve 100 percent containment — two previousprojection dates have been pushed back — by Tuesday.

All Forest Service campgrounds and day-use areas located along Highway243, San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness — and all hiking and mountainbiking trails out of Hurkey Creek County Campground and the May Valley area –remain closed.