MOUNTAIN FIRE UPDATE: 22,800 Acres Burned, Local Emergency Proclaimed In Riverside County

CLICK HERE FOR THE JULY 19, 2013 UPDATES.

"We are putting in place a strategy to work our way east ... to contain the fire," Jeanne Pincha-Tulley, a chief for the U.S. Forest Service, said during an early afternoon briefing outside a command post set up to coordinate operations connected with the Mountain Fire.

"We've lost three permanent homes and three mobile homes, but we got everybody out safe and sound," Pincha-Tulley said. "We've got hotshots, Cal Fire resources and quite a fleet of aircraft available. We're doing pretty well. We are the national priority right now."

She said flames from the monster blaze "sloped over onto the desert side" and were within two miles of Palm Springs' western boundary. But there was no immediate threat to the urban center itself.

She said the fire was "human caused," but was still under investigation. The blaze is 15 percent contained.

She said evacuation orders remain in place.

Patrick Reitz, chief of the Idyllwild Fire Protection District, said officials are "optimistic and trying to remain optimistic ... we can keep this on the other side of the ridge so it doesn't come into town."

Late Thursday afternoon, Riverside County has proclaimed a local emergency, which could make the county eligible for disaster funds if state and federal officials make funds available. The funds would reimburse the county for fire response, spokesman Ray Smith said. The cost of operations has reached $5.5 million, according to the Forest Service.

More than 6,000 acres of the land burned is part of the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians' reservation, according to the tribe.

Evacuation orders issued Wednesday include Forest Service land and Mount San Jacinto State Park and the Trails End community at the north end of Morris Ranch Road near Garner Valley, according to the U.S. Forest Service. Riverside County sheriff's Capt. Scot Collins said law enforcement personnel are patrolling evacuated areas.

There also have been evacuations in the Coachella Valley, within the Andreas Canyon Club, an area of 24 homes south of Palm Canyon Drive in an unincorporated area south of Palm Springs.

Some 4,100 residences in the evacuation zones, plus 100 commercial properties, are threatened by the blaze, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman John Miller.

The evacuation orders affected about 6,000 people living northwest of the fire zone and were prompted in part by a shift of direction in the prevailing winds, said Melody Lardner of the Forest Service.

Pine Cove, Mountain Center and Poppet Flats were not affected by the evacuation orders, which were issued by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and the Idyllwild Fire Protection District.

Highway 243 was closed from Highway 74 to Interstate 10 in Banning, and Highway 74 was closed from Cranston Station in Hemet to Highway 371, according to Caltrans.

Smoke and ash, meanwhile, continued to bedevil the region. A smoke advisory issued by the South Coast Air Quality was in effect today for parts of the Coachella Valley, Hemet, the San Jacinto Valley, the Banning Pass area and the Anza area.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway was closed today, but the VillageFest street market was slated to continue. An information board is posted at the Forest Service's satellite information center at South Palm Canyon Drive and Bogert Trail.

About 3,000 personnel, 228 engines, 10 fixed-wing aircraft, 17 helicopters, 21 water tenders and 15 bulldozers were deployed as of this morning. Today, two California Air National Guard firefighting aircraft were activated to help if needed.

The Mountain Fire ignited in the vicinity of highways 74 and 243, south of Mountain Center, around 1:45 p.m. Monday and has destroyed 23 structures. It's burning at a "rapid" rate through timber and chaparral in very steep and rugged terrain, according to the Forest Service.

Evacuation centers have been opened at Hamilton High School in Anza and Hemet and Beaumont high schools, and evacuation centers for animals were set up at Lake Hemet Campground in Garner Valley and the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, according to the Forest Service. Palm Springs hotels today started offering discounts to those affected by the fire -- a list is posted at www.visitpalmsprings.com.--City News Service

The Tribe has calculated through GIS mapping that among the 22,800 acres burned, more than 6,000 acres of that is on the reservation.

Dozens of people and animals have been evacuated from affected areas, according to U.S. Forest Service reports. More than 2,900 firefighters have been involved in attacking the fire from the ground and air. The fire has been burning in very steep and rugged terrain in the southern portion of the San Jacinto Wilderness along the Desert Divide and in the Apple Canyon and Bonita Vista Areas.

“We appreciate the many agencies and thousands of firefighters who are on the scene tackling this fire,” Chairman Grubbe said.

Officials Wednesday night ordered evacuations for the Idyllwild and Fern Valley areas east of Highway 243 -- which includes Forest Service land and Mount San Jacinto State Park -- and the Trails End community at the north end of Morris Ranch Road near Garner Valley, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Some 4,100 residences in the evacuation zones, plus 100 commercial properties, are threatened by the blaze, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman John Miller.

The evacuation orders affected about 6,000 people living northwest of the fire zone and were prompted in part by a shift of direction in the prevailing winds, said Melody Lardner, a Forest Service spokeswoman.

Pine Cove, Mountain Center, western Idyllwild and Poppet Flats were not affected by the evacuation orders, which were issued by the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and the Idyllwild Fire Protection District.

Miller said the most active parts of the fire are near Red Tahquitz Peak above Idyllwild and near Trails End to the south.

"These two areas will be the focus of today's firefighting activities as both air and ground crews work to slow the rate of spread of the fire," Miller said.

Highway 243 was closed from Highway 74 to Interstate 10 in Banning, and Highway 74 was closed from Cranston Station in Hemet to Highway 371, according to Caltrans.

Smoke and ash, meanwhile, continued to bedevil the region. A smoke advisory issued by the South Coast Air Quality was in effect today in parts of the Coachella Valley, Hemet, the San Jacinto Valley, the Banning Pass area and the Anza area. The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway was closed this morning until further notice.

There also have been evacuations in the Coachella Valley. Evacuation orders were issued for Andreas Canyon Club, an area of 24 homes south of Palm Canyon Drive in an unincorporated area south of Palm Springs on Tuesday night.

"Protecting the community of Idyllwild, Hemet Lake area and Palm Springs remain a high priority and will be the focus of firefighting efforts," Miller said Wednesday night.

A total of 2,985 personnel, 228 engines, 10 fixed-wing aircraft, 17 helicopters, 21 water tenders and 15 bulldozers were deployed as of this morning. So far, it has cost $5.5 million to fight the fire, according to the Forest Service.

Two night-flying aircraft continued to make aerial attacks on the blaze overnight, according to the Forest Service.

The Mountain Fire broke in the vicinity of highways 74 and 243 south of Mountain Center around 1:45 p.m. Monday, the cause undetermined. It has destroyed 23 structures, including seven residences on the first day, and was burning at a "rapid" rate through timber and chaparral in "very steep and rugged terrain," a Forest Service statement said.

Late Monday afternoon, two dozen area homes were ordered evacuated -- 20 in the Bonita Vista housing community northeast of Lake Hemet and four at nearby Fleming Ranch -- as was the Living Free Animal Sanctuary in Bonita Vista.

Camp Ronald McDonald and Camp Joe Sherman were voluntarily evacuated because of concerns about air quality.

Evacuation centers have been opened at Hamilton High School in Anza and Hemet and Beaumont high schools, and evacuation centers for animals were set up at Lake Hemet Campground in Garner Valley and the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus, according to the Forest Service.

The Pacific Crest Trail was closed from Highway 74 to Saddle Junction, and all of the trails connecting to the Pacific Crest Trail in the area were closed, as well. Hurkey Creek County Campground and hiking and mountain biking trails out of the campground and May Valley were also closed.--City News Service

As of Thursday morning, the U.S. Forest Service is reporting the blaze, named the Mountain fire, is 15 percent contained.

"Last night the fire settled down enough to allow fire crews to attack the south flank of the fire directly. ... On the north flank, crews made extraordinary effort building line in steep terrain toward South Peak. The night shift did a great job last night," the U.S.F.S. said in a statement today.

"The weather today remains hot and dry and the high level winds are coming out of the east. This change in wind direction aloft will be demonstrated by the top of smoke columns bending to the west. The most active parts of the fire are near Red Tahquitz Peak above the community of Idyllwild and near the community of Trails End to the south. These two areas will be the focus of today’s firefighting activities as both air and ground crews work to slow the rate of spread of the fire. Structure protection contingency plans are being updated in all evacuated communities. On the east side of the fire, the fire continues to slowly back down the mountain as fuels become more sparse at lower elevations," the statement continued.

The communities that have been evacuated include: Idyllwild; Fern Valley; Andreas Canyon Club, south of Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs; Bonita Vista; Pine Springs; Zen Mountain Center off of Apple Canyon Road; and Trails End at the North end of Morris Ranch Road.

The San Jacinto State Park Wilderness, Forest Service Wilderness and Forest Service Campgrounds have also been evacuated.

Camp Ronald McDonald and Camp Joe Sherman have been voluntarily evacuated due to health concerns related to air quality.

Highway 243 is under a soft closure from Banning South to Mountain Center; Highway 74 is under a soft closure from the Cranston Fire Station near Valle Vista east to the junction with Highway 371. A soft closure is in place to allow residents access to gather items from their homes or properties, the U.S.F.S. reported Wednesday night.

Evacuation centers have been set up at Hemet High School, 41701 E. Stetson Avenue, Hemet; Hamilton High School, 57430 Mitchell Road, Anza; and Beaumont High School, 39139 Cherry Valley Blvd, Beaumont, according to the sheriff's department.

Several homes have been destroyed in the blaze, including three mobile homes and three residences in Bonita Vista; one home there sustained damages, the U.S.F.S. reported.

In Pine Springs, one commercial building, a workshop, garage, and cabin were destroyed, the agency reported.

In addition to the above residences, there were a total of 11 outbuildings and four to six vehicles destroyed, according to the report.

"Firefighters were able to defend and save a larger number of homes," the statement read. 

The blaze was sparked in Mountain Center along Highway 74 at the 243 around 1:30 p.m. Monday, according to Cal Fire spokesman Mark Annas. 

The fire moved quickly through the area.

"First arriving units reported approximately five acres burning in heavy fuels at a moderate rate," Annas reported shortly after the blaze broke out Monday afternoon. 

The U.S.F.S., which has taken the lead on the blaze, reported the fire "is burning in very steep and rugged terrain …." 

Animal evacuation sites have been established at the San Jacinto Animal Shelter, 581 South Grand Avenue, San Jacinto. The shelter is accepting both small and large animals and can be reached at (951) 358-7387. Additionally, large and small animals can be taken to Lake Hemet Campground in Garner Valley, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued a smoke advisory for the Coachella Valley due to ash and smoke from the blaze.

According to air quality officials, residents should avoid vigorous outdoor activity, keep windows and doors closed and run an air conditioner.

Those with respiratory or heart disease, the elderly and children should remain indoors, according to the AQMD.

A map showing current air quality conditions is available online at www3.aqmd.gov. More health tips may be seen at www.aqmd.gov.

Trail closures due to the fire include: The Pacific Crest Trail is closed from Highway 74 north to Saddle Junction. All of the trails connection to the Pacific Crest Trail are closed as well, including South Ridge Trail, Carumba Trail, Spitler Peak Trail, Fobes Trail, and Cedar Springs.

Hurkey Creek County Camground, and all of the hiking and mountain biking trails out of Hurkey creek and May Valley are closed.

Individuals or groups with overnight or advance day-use permits into the San Jacinto Wilderness are advised to call the San Jacinto Ranger Station at 909-382-2921.