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PHOTOS: 2022 Fairview wildfire

As California enters the height of the wildfire season, blistering temperatures and suburban neighborhoods present a unique challenge to fighting wildfires.

By Yannick Peterhans
Photographs of the Fairview Wildfire in Hemet, CA. The fire burned over 25,000 acres and threatened hundreds of homes in the area.

Dawnie Roberts stands down the road from her home, watching as the smoke gets closer to where her husband and son were preparing to fight the flames. (Photo by Yannick Peterhans)

The Fairview fire erupted outside of Hemet, California on Sept. 5, 2022. The blaze quickly grew to 28,000 acres and evacuation orders were made for the families soon to be surrounded by the fast-moving fire. On Sept. 8, 2022, Rick and Dawnie Roberts were one of the families affected by the Fairview fire. They mounted a defense with their sprinkler system, hosing down their roof and preparing an additional water truck. Thanks to these precautions, the help of the Ventura County Fire Department and many drops of water from the air support, their home was safe from the fire by sunset.

Photographs of the Fairview Wildfire in Hemet, CA. The fire burned over 25,000 acres and threatened hundreds of homes in the area.

After completing a drop of water, a helicopter flies just overhead the Roberts' house. The windmill spun eagerly as the fire drew closer, a testament to the difficult conditions the fire was growing in. (Photo by Yannick Peterhans)

Photographs of the Fairview Wildfire in Hemet, CA. The fire burned over 25,000 acres and threatened hundreds of homes in the area.

Rick Roberts waters the roof of his house as the fire approaches from the east. (Photo by Yannick Peterhans)

Photographs of the Fairview Wildfire in Hemet, CA. The fire burned over 25,000 acres and threatened hundreds of homes in the area.

A helicopter drops additional water on the still blazing fire just a swimming pool distance away from the Roberts’ driveway. (Photo by Yannick Peterhans)

Photographs of the Fairview Wildfire in Hemet, CA. The fire burned over 25,000 acres and threatened hundreds of homes in the area.

Firefighters from the Ventura County Fire Department walk up the Roberts’ driveway with the blaze to their right. The white water truck was a precaution prepared by the Roberts for wildfires like the Fairview fire. (Photo by Yannick Peterhans)

Photographs of the Fairview Wildfire in Hemet, CA. The fire burned over 25,000 acres and threatened hundreds of homes in the area.

The drops of water were very effective in controlling the blaze. With the help of decreasing wind speeds, the air support was able to extinguish the whole blaze to the east of the Roberts’ home. (Photo by Yannick Peterhans)

Photographs of the Fairview Wildfire in Hemet, CA. The fire burned over 25,000 acres and threatened hundreds of homes in the area.

Members of the Ventura County Fire Department look out from the Roberts’ driveway into the fields of charcoaled black and white smoke. (Photo by Yannick Peterhans)

Photographs of the Fairview Wildfire in Hemet, CA. The fire burned over 25,000 acres and threatened hundreds of homes in the area.

A helicopter flies through the smoky skies as the sun sets to the west. The same windmill spinning significantly less than just 45 minutes prior. (Photo by Yannick Peterhans)