The Fairview fire in Hemet, California, is rapidly spreading across several Southern California communities as 4,500 acres have burned with 5 percent contained as of 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 6.
Evacuation orders remain in place and were extended at 2:19 p.m. Tuesday to communities further east, including Thomas Mountain Ridge South, Cactus Valley, Bautista Canyon, and the forest boundary.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated. But Southern California Edison Tuesday told the California Public Utilities Commission that “circuit activity” occurred during the time the fire began Sept. 5 at approximately 3:37 p.m.The blaze, which began in Hemet on Monday afternoon, was moving further east—a 180-degree shift of the wind that officials could not explain.
