Lower Temperatures, Higher Humidity Assist Firefighters

Cooler temperatures and rising humidity on Saturday helped firefighters who were trying to surround lingering hot spots from a blaze that destroyed six homes earlier this week.

The fire, apparently set off by a cigarette tossed from a car early Wednesday, was more than 60% contained Saturday, said Betty Hawk, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service.

The afternoon temperatures in Alpine, 30 miles east of San Diego, were expected to hover around 68 degrees over the weekend. The humidity level had soared to 40%, up from about 13% Wednesday. The blaze was expected to be fully contained by Monday evening.

“Really, the weather is cooperating with us,” spokeswoman Audrey Hager said. “We’re still mopping up the hot spots. But the fire is not moving, which is good.”

More than 10,000 acres were burned, but the fire had dwindled to about 40 acres Friday.

The cost of fighting the fire was estimated at $5.3 million so far, and the tally probably will reach $10 million, Hawk said.

Six homes and several other structures were destroyed. The blaze forced the closing of two Indian casinos and temporarily closed a 12-mile stretch of freeway on Wednesday.