Cocos Fire Is 89% Contained

More than 600 firefighters today pressed on against a nearly 2,000-acre wildfire that was 89 percent contained after having leveled more than three dozen structures in the San Marcos area, authorities said.

The Cocos Fire broke out near Cocos Drive on late Wednesday afternoon amid gusty winds, triple-digit heat and extremely dry ground cover, according to Cal Fire, which said the blaze was 89 percent contained as of Monday morning.

In addition to the 639 fire personnel assigned to the incident, authorities were using 55 fire engines, 17 fire crews, two helicopters, 16 water tenders and six bulldozers, mostly to put out smoldering areas early today.

The cause of the Cocos Fire was under investigation.

An evacuation order for all San Marcos-area residents was lifted Sunday, though those who returned home were asked to use caution because of all the continuing firefighting activity in the area.

Among the structures destroyed in the Cocos Fire were 25 structures at the Harmony Grove Spiritual Association, a century-old church retreat, according to fire and county officials.

The fire's cost to date was more than $5.7 million, authorities said.

No injuries have been reported in connection with the fire, according to Cal Fire.

—City News Service