Holy Fire containment rises to 64 percent; 22,986 acres burned in Lake Elsinore-Corona area
TRABUCO CANYON, Calif. (KABC) -- Fire officials on Tuesday announced that containment of the massive Holy Fire has reached 64 percent, offering more hope to residents of Riverside and Orange counties even as thousands of homes remained threatened by the blaze that erupted more than a week ago.
The wildfire has burned 22,986 acres and destroyed at least 12 structures in the Cleveland National Forest with more than 1,500 firefighters on the front lines.
As the fire entered its ninth day, helicopters and airplanes continued to drop fire retardant on flames burning in otherwise inaccessible terrain. In some neighborhoods, entire blocks were covered with red Phos-Chek.
WATCH: Time-lapse footage shows Holy Fire's progression
The U.S. Forest Service lifted evacuations for the areas of Horsethief Canyon and Glen Eden in Corona, and McVicker and Rice canyons in Lake Elsinore. Cleveland National Forest officials lifted mandatory evacuations for the Machado community and voluntary evacuations for the Shoreline community.
Also reopening is Ortega Highway, a major route for thousands of commuters linking Orange and Riverside counties.
Still, approximately 2,700 properties remain threatened and 7,000 are under a mandatory evacuation order.
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In the eight days since flames erupted, there's only been one report of a burglar in evacuation areas, and police have made an arrest.
California Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency in Riverside and Orange counties, which triggered a state law banning price gouging.
The state of California prohibits hotels from charging evacuees a price that is more than 10 percent of the regular price.
The fire has delayed the start of class for many schools in the Corona-Norco Unified School District.
Mandatory evacuations have been lifted for some communities, including El Cariso and Rancho Capistrano.
Mandatory evacuations:
-Mountain Street at Avocado Way in the McVicker Canyon community where the pavement ends.
- Blue Jay, Indian Canyon, Sycamore Creek, Mystic Oaks and Mayhew Canyon.
- All homes on the mountainside of Lake Street and southwest of Grand Avenue to Ortega Highway.
A care and reception center is available at Temescal Canyon High School, 28755 El Toro Rd Lake Elsinore CA 92532 for residents. There is also an evacuation center at the San Juan Hills High School, located at 29211 Stallion Ridge, San Juan Capistrano.
Voluntary evacuation warnings:
The Trilogy at Glen Ivy senior living community is under voluntary evacuation.
Road closures remain in place at De Palma Road between Horsethief Canyon and Indian Truck Trail, along with Campbell Road at Temescal Canyon.
School closures:
-Corona-Norco Unified School District schools include: Corona High, Centennial High, Santiago High, Pollard High, Orange Grove High, Citrus Hills Intermediate, Corona Fundamental Intermediate, El Cerrito Middle Raney Intermediate, Home Gardens Academy, Todd Academy, Susan B. Anthony, Eisenhower Elementary, Foothill Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Garretson Elementary, Jefferson Elementary, Lincoln Fundamental Orange Elementary, Stallings Elementary, Temescal Valley Elementary, Vicentia Elementary and Wilson Elementary.
-Lake Elsinore Unified School District Schools include: Luiseno School, Rice Canyon Elementary, Terra Cota Middle School and Withrow Elementary. District officials said they will be closed until Aug. 20.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued an unhealthy air quality advisory for the following portions of Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties:
- Orange County: Saddleback Valley, Capistrano Valley
- Riverside County: Corona, Norco, Metro Riverside, Perris Valley, Lake Elsinore, Temecula Valley, Hemet, San Jacinto Valley, Banning Pass
- San Bernardino County: Northwest San Bernardino Valley, Southwest San Bernardino Valley, Central San Bernardino Valley, East San Bernardino Valley
The fire has been burning since Aug, 6, when it was first reported near Holy Jim Canyon and Trabuco Creek roads - across the main divide between Orange and Riverside counties.
Ash from the fire has fallen as far away as Malibu and the Coachella Valley. Officials are warning people to be careful when cleaning up ash because it can be toxic.
Fire officials say they expect to reach full containment by Friday.
