UPDATED AS OF 10 a.m. Aug. 17: Cal Fire is reporting 100 percent containment on the 2,681-acre Buck Fire that burned east of Temecula this week.
Firefighters remain at the scene patrolling and extinguishing hot spots and improving containment lines, the agency reported this morning.
Fire officials downsized the blaze from 3,000 acres. The change in acreage is due to more accurate mapping, Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Department reports.
A map of the fire has not been provided by officials.
On Wednesday evening Cal Fire also announced that mandatory evacuation orders have been lifted for residents affected by the blaze. The lift meant the evacuation center at the Temecula Community Recreation Center at 30875 Rancho Vista Road was shut down.
Thirty-two residences were evacuated Tuesday as a result of the blaze burning near Temecula, and evacuation orders for residents on Stanley, Checkmate, Reed Valley, and Garrett roads remained in effect Wednesday. Road closures were also in effect in those areas Wednesday.
The Buck Fire destroyed four structures, including at least one home. The blaze broke out just before 1 p.m. Tuesday near Sage Road in Aguanga.
The injury count from the blaze now stands at six, including four firefighters who were transported to local hospitals with minor injuries. They are reported in good condition, according to Cal Fire officials.
Two civilians were also injured in the blaze Tuesday, one seriously. Both were transported to a local hospital. The most serious injury required an airlift.to read more about what happened Tuesday.
Wednesday's weather waged war against the 400 firefighters on the blaze's front lines.
Temperatures surpassing the 100-degree mark were likely to "cause the fire to burn more aggressively," said Cal Fire spokesman Glenn Barley said. Click here to watch a video of Barley's remarks Wednesday.
The torrid summer weather is particularly trying on firefighters, who risk dehydration and heat exhaustion as they battle the blaze.
The blaze burned in a remote, sparsely populated area marked by some steep and rocky terrain, Barley explained.
Officials now say the cause of the fire was a lightning sleeper. Click here to read about the phenomenon.
