Sayre fire now fully contained

Nearly one week after the devastating Sayre fire began, fire officials said Thursday evening that they had fully contained the blaze, which burned through 17 square miles and destroyed more than 500 structures.

The cause of the fire, which started late Nov. 14, remains under investigation. It quickly roared through the Oakridge Mobile Home Park in Sylmar, destroying or damaging about 90% of the community. In all, 487 homes, one commercial building and 146 outbuildings were destroyed, fire officials said.

Also Thursday, officials at Santa Barbara City College said nine of the 10 men and women who set the bonfire that sparked the Montecito fire were their students.

The students, ranging in age from 18 to 22, had gathered at an abandoned property called the Teahouse late Nov. 12. They told authorities they thought the fire was out when they left, but the embers continued to smolder for more than 12 hours and were reignited when winds swept through the next day. The fire destroyed 210 homes and damaged nine others. At least 25 people were injured.

“We are deeply saddened by this news and extend our heartfelt sympathies to all members of the community and their families who were affected by this tragedy,” college President Andreea M. Serban said in a statement.

Firefighters continued to put out hot spots and douse smoking vegetation in the Freeway Complex fire, which reached 100% containment Wednesday. Orange County Fire Authority spokesman Capt. Greg McKeown said the department is still receiving some 911 calls about small flare-ups.

About 30,305 acres have been burned in the fire that started Saturday morning in Corona and quickly spread to Yorba Linda, Anaheim Hills and parts of San Bernardino and L.A. counties. At least 155 homes have burned in that fire.

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kimi.yoshino@latimes.com