Mountain Center Fire Has Covered 8,000 Acres, 10% Contained

Flames and smoke from the Mountain Center fire are seen here from Highway 79 near Domenigoni Road in Winchester Monday night.

Story updated at 2 p.m.:

A fire burning out of control near Idyllwild has now covered an estimated 8,000 acres and is only 10 percent contained, officials said.

According to Lee Beyer of the U.S. Forest Service, there is no estimate on when the fire will be fully contained. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

"I haven't heard anything about an estimate on that," he said this morning. "It could be several days to a couple weeks."

Beyer said one minor injury has been reported and two homes were lost. He had no details on those losses.

Mandatory evacuations are in place for homes in the Bonita Vista and Fleming Ranch areas. Evacuation shelters have been set up at Hemet High School and Hamilton High School in Anza.

The fire was first reported at 1:43 p.m. Monday. More than 650 firefighters, eight helicopters, seven air tankers and six bulldozers are fighting the blaze, which is burning in steep and rugged terrain in the southern portion of the San Jacinto Wildnerness.

According to Beyer, Highway 243 is closed from the junction with Highway 74 to the south edge of Idyllwild.