SAN DIEGO -- The smaller of two deadly wildfires that ravaged the San Diego region was fully contained Thursday, California Department of Forestry officials said.
The 56,700-acre Paradise Fire, which erupted shortly after midnight Oct. 26 near Valley Center, was 100 percent surrounded at 6 a.m., CDF information officer Lora Lowes said.
Full control of the blaze, which killed two residents and destroyed 221 homes, 192 outbuildings and 401 vehicles, was expected by Nov. 15, according to the CDF.
To avoid flare-ups, firefighters were "mopping up and making sure they reinforce their lines," Lowes said.
Cool temperatures and calm winds helped firefighters gain the upper hand on the blaze overnight, Lowes said.
To the south, the much larger Cedar Fire has been 100 percent contained since daybreak Tuesday, just hours before President George W. Bush arrived to tour a rural neighborhood near El Cajon that was ravaged by the conflagration.
The 280,275-acre Cedar Fire killed 14 people, including a Novato, Calif., firefighter, while leveling 2,232 homes, 566 outbuildings and 148 vehicles, according to the CDF.
It began spreading near Ramona the evening of Oct. 25, probably sparked by a lost hunter's signal fire, officials have said.
Crews hope to have the Cedar Fire completely extinguished by the evening of Nov. 16, according to the CDF.
Meanwhile, San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy has been appointment to the Blue Ribbon Fire Commission by Gov. Gray Davis. The commission will review the effort to fight the recent Southern California wildfires and provide recommendations to prevent property damage and loss of life during future fires.
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