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KTLA News
10:27 PM CDT, August 16, 2012
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AGUANGA, Calif. (KTLA) -- The so-called Buck Fire has scorched 2,681 acres and is now 90 percent contained, fire officials said Thursday morning.
Full containment is expected by 8:00 a.m. Saturday.
The blaze was reported just before 1 p.m. Tuesday near the community of Aguanga, a sparsely populated area south of Hemet and east of Temecula.
At least four structures, including one home, were destroyed by the fire, which spread rapidly through dry brush and grasslands.
Almost 1,000 firefighters battled the blaze, which was started by lightning, according to authorities.
They expect to have the fire fully contained by Saturday morning.
All evacuation orders have been lifted for homeowners forced to flee the foothills of the San Jacinto mountains because of the fire.
Two residents were injured, and three firefighters have suffered injuries, authorities said.
One man who lived in a trailer was seriously burned Tuesday night and was taken by helicopter to a local hospital.
Authorities said the man, whose home was in a remote area, apparently had not received a notice to evacuate.
A second civilian suffered less serious burn injuries and was taken to the hospital by ambulance.
Meantime, crews battling the fire found a hidden marijuana field and two men possibly trying to protect the illicit plants, authorities said.
"We're not able to get into the area because of the fire, so we have to wait until its contained," said Riverside County Sheriff's spokeswoman Sgt. Lisa McConnell.
"We haven't even started our investigation," McConnell said, adding that no arrests have been made.