The largest of the wildfires to ravage San Diego County was 90 percent contained today, and firefighters expect to have the blaze fully contained by tomorrow.
Two civilians were killed and 38 firefighters have been injured in the Witch Fire, which began at 12:30 p.m. on Oct. 21 in Witch Creek, along Highway 78 between Ramona and Julian. It has burned 197,990 acres at an estimated cost of $11.3 million, according to Cal Fire - the lead agency fighting the fire.
The Witch Fire has joined the Poomacha fire in the north, but neither fire was moving quickly today and residents are being allowed back into to area. The Poomacha fire is about 50 percent contained.
The two civilians were killed in northeastern Rancho Bernardo as the fire swooped across North County early Monday morning.
It eventually stopped in Rancho Santa Fe, but not before consuming several high-end homes and threatening San Diego's coastline.
Fred Daskowski, of Cal Fire, said many of the 2,313 firefighters battling the Witch Fire have been working 12-to-24 hour shifts to get the blaze under control. The fire did not move fast today, he said.
``There hasn't been much change since this afternoon. They just aren't moving,'' said Daskoski. ``The weather is in our favor. But I don't know, I did hear of high pressure moving in.''
The Witch Fire has destroyed 1,040 homes and 414 outbuildings and about 70 homes and 25 outbuildings have been damaged. The fire also charred at least 239 vehicles.
The civilians who perished -- a married couple in their 50s -- died in their garage while trying to evacuate. Broker John Christopher Bain, who was active in local Boy Scout activities, and Rincon Middle School teacher Victoria Fox leave behind a 20-year-old son who was away at college when the fire hit, according to coroner officials.
Thousands upon thousands were evacuated from Ramona to the coast throughout the fire but most have returned home by now, according to the San Diego County Office of Emergency Services. However for those returning to the Ramona area, unsafe water conditions brought on by a fire-damaged water supply system have prompted an alert to use water only for laundry and toilet purposes.
Showering and ingesting water, even if it's boiled, is strongly discouraged until further notice, county officials said.
