Ash and metal are all that remain of a guard shack leading to the Eagle Rock Training Center on the Los Coyote Indian Reservation near Warner Springs. The shack was destroyed in a fire that began nearly a week ago.

Firefighters were gaining the upper hand Thursday morning on the wildfire that has been burning for nearly a week on the Los Coyotes Indian Reservation east of Warner Springs, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The fire, believed to be the result of arson, had burned 14,100 acres and was about 80 percent contained, CalFire Battalion Chief Nick Schuler said Thursday. Full containment was expected by Saturday, he said.
"It's going really, really well," Schuler said.

Thus far, the cost of fighting the blaze was estimated to be nearly $13 million, authorities said.

No homes were threatened Thursday and fire activity was minimal, Schuler said. One outbuilding burned at the start of the fire July 21 at 10:40 p.m. and 15 firefighters have been injured battling the blaze, authorities said.
Crews were building containment lines around the fire, patrolling the area and looking for hot spots, Schuler said.

The leading edge of the fire had spread east into a canyon within a few miles of the desert town of Borrego Springs on Tuesday but agencies sent helicopters and fire engines to keep it from moving closer to populated areas. Crews were able to stop the fire's spread Wednesday.

Due to aggressive fire-control measures, no bulldozers were used in the Anza Borrego State Park, Schuler said. That is important because some residents had expressed concerns about using bulldozers to create fire control lines on sensitive wilderness areas, he said.

Authorities declined comment on the reasons why they believe the fire was the result of arson. Schuler said no additional information would be released until the investigation was complete.

More than 2,000 personnel were on the scene Thursday along with 20 helicopters, seven air tankers, 18 bulldozers and 51 fire engines.
The Borrego Palm Canyon Campground and Trail and the Lost Valley Boy Scout Camp remain closed, authorities said.