document: Firefighters got the upper hand Friday on an 8,200-acre brush fire in Cleveland National Forest that destroyed 11 structures near Lake Elsinore in Riverside County . Aided by higher humidity and a decrease in wind , fire crews had more than 85 % of the blaze surrounded late Friday afternoon and began releasing many of the 2,300 people who had been fighting the fire . Officials predicted that the blaze would be completely under control by Saturday morning but would not be extinguished until midday Sunday . 2,000 Acres Burned Meanwhile , a brush fire that burned more than 2,000 acres of mostly rugged terrain in the Antelope Valley this week was contained by firefighters Friday morning , authorities said . Authorities estimated that fighting the fire near Lake Elsinore will wind up costing $ 1.5 million . They said the blaze resulted in more than $ 1.1 million damage to various structures in remote canyons and to the watershed that feeds Lake Elsinore . Investigators said the fire appears to have been caused by people near a roadside store just across the Orange County line , near the crest of Ortega Highway . They again appealed to the public for help in identifying those responsible . Charred Landscape Dean McAlister , a U.S. Forest Service spokesman , said fire crews late Friday were hiking into the rugged , charred landscape along the Orange-Riverside county line to do battle with sections of the fire still consuming brush and timber . Officials said they hope to salvage some of the unaffected terrain , which can act as habitat islands for birds and other wildlife . Although officials first believed that the fire would be contained by late Friday afternoon , they revised their estimates because of troubles battling lingering flames on the southern edge of the blaze , inside the rugged , 3,400-acre San Mateo Wilderness . Fire crews were forced to work mostly with shovels , picks and other hand equipment to cut fire lines in that area . `` It 's down to the hard grunt work , the stuff for the guys who like to sweat , '' said Stephen Guarino , a Riverside County Fire Department spokesman . Residents Return Residents evacuated from 200 homes near Lake Elsinore on Wednesday evening have returned to their houses , authorities said . The Ortega Highway will remain closed through the weekend as crews continue to work , effectively shutting down several popular campgrounds and picnic spots over the busy holiday . Four firefighters were injured fighting the blaze , one of them seriously , authorities said . U.S. Forest Service spokesman Robert Brady said the Antelope Valley fire was 100 % contained at 8 a.m. Friday . All Los Angeles County firefighters were released from the fire lines , and a crew of 95 Forest Service firefighters were left to `` mop up , '' Brady said . Home Burned The fire claimed 2,250 acres along the outskirts of Elizabeth Lake and Green Valley . Six structures were burned , including one home , and more than 1,000 people were forced to temporarily evacuate on Wednesday . More than 300 firefighters battled the blaze during the three days . Brady said there were no injuries reported . Times staff writer Michael Connelly contributed to this article .
extractive_keyphrases: brush fire cleveland national forest fire crews firefighters investigators blaze damage