Fires have charred thousands of acres in Southern California

In this story:

• 1,500 firefighters deployed
• Some evacuees go home
• 20 year fire veteran dies

BANNING, California (CNN) -- Hot, dry Santa Ana winds were expected to pick up speed again Tuesday in Southern California, where wildfires have charred more than 22,000 acres and contributed to two deaths. A fire captain suffered a heart attack, and an air tanker pilot was presumed dead after his plane crashed.

The largest of two wildfires remained out of control Tuesday in a hilly area of Riverside County, about 90 miles east of Los Angeles. Roughly 1,500 firefighters were deployed to battle that blaze. The cause of the fires was under investigation.

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Overnight the second fire combined with the blaze near Banning, according to Will Donaldson, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry.

Flames and smoke have destroyed five structures since the fires erupted early Monday and quickly spread through tinder dry brush. The seasonal Santa Ana winds whipped up to 30 mph, but died down somewhat by nightfall.

"We've got to take advantage of the cooler temperatures, try to get as much done as we can now before winds start to swirl up again," said forestry battalion chief Jim Wright.

"We've got continued wind forecast for the next few days," he added. "So we've got to get our work done quickly."

Residents evacuated their horses as flames moved closer

About 1,000 people who were evacuated have been allowed to go home, after a frantic scramble to safety Monday. Horse owners struggled to evacuate their animals quickly, and one resident told CNN the fire seemed to race closer as she turned her head.

"It was huge. I looked out the window and I didn't even see it coming over the mountain. Then when we looked out again it was down, and chips started flying all over and the bushes started burning," said Lisa Plawin.

In the Cherry Valley area of Riverside County, a second blaze -- the Calimesa fire -- still burned Tuesday and had covered about 4,000 acres. A mobile home park and country club were evacuated.

Jerry Jacques, 32, was among 500 people evacuated from that area. He grabbed his children's pictures and valuable baseball cards. Of his other belongings, he said, "I wouldn't know where to start."

A firefighter was presumed to have died Monday when his vintage air tanker crashed

Capt. Thomas Oscar Wall, 44, of the Orange County Fire Authority suffered a fatal heart attack while hosing down roofs in Calimesa. He collapsed after telling colleagues he wasn't feeling well and was having trouble breathing. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.

Wall was a decorated 20-year fire department veteran. He is survived by a wife and three teen-age children.

Authorities have not yet been able to reach the area where a twin-engine air tanker crashed Monday. The pilot was attempting to drop fire retardant, and is presumed dead.

Autumn is fire season in Southern California, where arid summers leave vegetation extremely dry, and the Santa Ana winds begin to blow hot air in from the desert.

Correspondent Greg LaMotte and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

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