Community Corner

URGENT UPDATE: Idyllwild Under Evacuation Orders Due To Mountain Fire

Evacuation routes out of the Idyllwild area include Highway 74 into Hemet, Highway 243 into Banning, and Highway 74 south toward Anza and Palm Desert.

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Click here for the latest July 18, 2013 updates.

Updated at 8:30 a.m. July 18, 2013: The fire burning in the San Jacinto Mountains east of Southwest Riverside County has now consumed 22,800 acres, has nearly 3,000 firefighters assigned to it, has forced evacuations, and has destroyed homes.

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

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.

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

According to an urgent alert Wednesday evening from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, evacuation routes out of the Idyllwild area included Highway 74 into Hemet, Highway 243 into Banning, and Highway 74 south toward Anza and Palm Desert.

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.

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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.

There are no immediate reports of injuries caused by the blaze, but the U.S.F.S. has issued a reminder to residents: "It is always important to remind homeowners that homes and building with proper clearances and fuels abatements always give firefighters better opportunities to successfully defend and save those homes, especially when defending those homes in the face of an advancing fire front."

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.


UPDATED AT 9:36 p.m. July 17, 2013: 
 Evacuations have been ordered for Fern Valley, Idyllwild and adjacent communities east of Highway 243 due to the fire that started Monday in the Mountain Center area in the San Jacinto Mountains and has now consumed an estimated 19,400 acres and several structures, the U.S. Forest Service reports.

The "Mountain Fire," which is burning at a "rapid spread through timber and chaparral," is 15 percent contained and has headed toward Palm Springs, according to the latest incident report issued by the agency.

According to an urgent alert Wednesday evening from the Riverside County Sheriff's Department, evacuation routes out of the Idyllwild area include Highway 74 into Hemet, Highway 243 into Banning, and Highway 74 south toward Anza and Palm Desert. 

Pine Cove, Mountain Center, and Poppet Flat are not under immediate evacuation orders, according to the sheriff's department.

Mandatory evacuation orders are still in effect for the Andreas Canyon Club, south of Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, for Bonita Vista, Pine Springs, and the Zen Mountain Center off of Apple Canyon Road, and Trails End at the North end of Morris Ranch Road.

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.

Nearly 3,000 firefighting personnel are now assigned to the suppression efforts.

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 late Tuesday afternoon.

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

In addition to the above residences, there was 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 U.S.F.S. says the fire has "extreme" growth potential. 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 U.S.F.S., which has taken the lead on the blaze, reported Tuesday morning the fire "is 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." 

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.

The fire has 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.

There are no immediate reports of injuries, but the U.S.F.S. has issued a reminder to residents: "It is always important to remind homeowners that homes and building with proper clearances and fuels abatements always give firefighters better opportunities to successfully defend and save those homes, especially when defending those homes in the face of an advancing fire front."

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.








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