The destructive Border Fire that has leveled homes and blackened more than 7,600 acres over the past 11 days was 95 percent contained Wednesday morning.
At last count, 377 firefighters were laboring to extinguish the remainder of the fire, which destroyed 16 homes and outbuildings in the southern reaches of San Diego County since it began burning near state Routes 94 and 188 on the morning of June 19, fire officials said. What sparked the blaze remains unknown.
The fire prompted widespread evacuations, but the orders have since been lifted. All roads in the burn area have been reopened, however the Pacific Crest Trail remains closed to hikers, according to Cal Fire.
On Tuesday, the county Board of Supervisors approved a plan to distribute trash bins to those needing to clear debris and to waive fees for various permits required for the rebuilding process.
"People should know that this is just the beginning," county Supervisor Dianne Jacob said. "We're in for probably one of the worst fire seasons that we have seen yet, and there is an awful lot of brush out there — dry brush — to burn that hasn't burned in over 50 years."
The county took similar steps after fires in 2003, 2007 and 2014.
