2 killed as Fairview Fire burns 2,700 acres in Hemet, prompting evacuations; 7 structures destroyed

HEMET, Calif. (KABC) -- Two people were killed and another was injured Monday after a wildfire broke out in Hemet and quickly spread to 2,700 acres, officials said.

The Fairview Fire destroyed at least seven structures - several of them apparently homes - and damaged several others, according to the Riverside County Fire Department. The blaze was 5% contained as of 10 p.m.

Evacuations were ordered for thousands of homes in the area. The initial evacuation applied to the area south of Thornton Avenue, north of Polly Butte Road, west of Fairview Avenue and east of State Street.

The evacuation area was later expanded to include the area south of Stetson, north of Cactus Valley Road, west of Fairview and east of State Street.

A care center for evacuees was established at Tahquitz High School, 4425 Titan Trail in Hemet.

The Hemet Unified School District said schools would be closed Tuesday because of the fire.

Footage from AIR7 HD showed multiple residential structures on fire.

The Fairview Fire was first reported just after 3:30 p.m. in the area of Fairview Avenue and Bautista Road. At first it was estimated at 20 acres burning in light to medium vegetation, but with the long-term drought and this week's heat wave, by 5 p.m. it had spread rapidly to at least 500 acres. By 11 p.m. it was mapped at 2,702 acres.

Temperatures were hitting around 104 degrees in the Hemet area Monday afternoon.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.