Two people were killed in Fairview Fire near Hemet; 2,000 acres and 7 structures burned

Two people have died and another person has been injured by the Fairview Fire southeast of Hemet that is rapidly spreading toward the west amid hot conditions.

The Fairview Fire has grown to 2,000 acres as of Monday night. 

Cal Fire first reported the Fairview Fire, located near the intersection of Fairview Avenue and Bautista Road in an unincorporated area near Hemet, around 4 p.m. on Monday. By 4:50 p.m., the fire had grown to approximately 500 acres and was burning at a rapid rate of spread. 

The fire had spread to 2,000 acres as of 10 p.m. Monday, with 5% containment.

Cal Fire confirmed the two fatalities and one injury. Seven structures have been destroyed, with several others damaged. 

Footage from a KABC-Los Angeles helicopter showed what appeared to be several residential structures on fire just after 5 p.m.

An evacuation order was initially issued for 1,584 homes in the area bound roughly by State Street to the west, Thornton Avenue to the north, Fairview Avenue to the east, and Polly Butte Road to the south. 

The evacuation order was expanded Monday evening to the area south of Stetson Avenue, north of Cactus Valley Road, west of Fairview Avenue, and east of State Street. 

A care and reception site is available at Tahquitz High School, 4425 Titan Trail in Hemet. 

A couple of hundred firefighters were in the area as of 6 p.m. Monday. 

The area of the Fairview Fire is currently experiencing very hot, dry, and windy conditions, according to the National Weather Service’s San Diego office, with winds expected to decrease this evening. However, conditions are expected to remain warm and dry overnight. 

Meanwhile, near Big Bear, another fire broke out in the San Bernardino National Forest on Monday afternoon. The Radford Fire was covering 50 acres with 0% containment as of around 5:15 p.m. on Monday, with approximately 140 personnel assigned to the fire, according to San Bernardino National Forest. 

By 7:15 p.m., the fire had grown to 200 acres with 0% containment.

An evacuation order has been issued from Glass Road to South Fork River Road, according to the Yucaipa Police Department. 

State Route 38 is currently closed in both directions from Mill Creek Road to Lakewood Road, according to CalTrans.