The Harris fire was 70 percent contained today, with nearly 2,500 firefighters attacking the blaze, which killed five people making it the deadliest of the 17 major fires that hit Southern California last week.
The fire, which started on Harris Ranch Road Oct. 21, has charred 90,750 acres. Firefighters expect to have the fire fully contained by Wednesday. The Harris fire also injured 21 civilians and 34 firefighters and destroyed at least 206 homes, according to Cal Fire.
But all evacuation orders related to the Harris fire have been lifted, and residents are permitted to return to the area, according to Cal Fire, which estimates the total cost of fighting the fire to date at $11.3 million.
Repair work on Highway 94 between Dulzura and the Tecate turnoff means that road is closed, but that is the only roadblock up anywhere in East County this morning, California Highway Patrol officers reported.
About 40 firefighters from Tijuana and Rosarito crossed the border to help their U.S. counterparts fight the fire, which at times threatened to burn into urbanized areas south of El Cajon and east of Chula Vista.
