The beginning of the Cranston Fire. Photo by Pat Boss
The Cranston Fire was reported about 1 p.m. It has burned about 20 acres near the Forest Service’s Cranston Station and is about 50 percent contained, according to Carol Underhill, the Forest Service information officer. The cause is under investigation
Highway 74 is closed to all traffic from Marshall on the west to Highway 243 on the east in Mountain Center. The highway is expected to be closed until approximately 7:00 pm according to Cal Trans. Motorists can call 1-800-427-ROAD (7623)
Helicopters battled the Cranston Fire on Highway 74 allegedly started by arson. The highway was closed from Mountain Center to Valle Vista for most of the afternoon on Sunday while fire personnel worked to get the fire under control. Photo by Jenny Kirchner
to get updated road conditions.
More photos (all by Jenny Kirchner) of the firefighters combating the blaze.
Helicopter dropping water on the Cranston Fire. Photo by Jenny KrichnerHelicopters drew water every few minutes as the relentlessly battle the Cranston Fire on Sunday afternoon. Photo by Jenny KirchnerThrough the thick smoke, ground crews and helicopters contain the Cranston Fire. Photo by Jenny KirchnerOne member of the ground crew uses a fire hose to douse areas of the charred hillside. Photo by Jenny KirchnerHigh up a hill off Highway 74, ground crews work at clearing fuels while helicopters put out fires and hot spots. Photo by Jenny Kirchner
The Idyllwild Arts Academy is in the midst of revising its current campus master plan. Riverside County Planning Department has scheduled a hearing on the proposed changes for 1:30 p.m., July 9 at the Desert Permit Assistance Center in Palm Desert …
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Department has been awarded nearly $600,000 grant to help fund the expansion of the existing Body-Worn Camera program. The U.S. Department of Justice grant is for the current fiscal year and next. The funding will cover the remaining nine patrol stations with staff, which do not have this equipment. This grant,…
Residents of Riverside County’s unincorporated areas, including Idyllwild, are being asked to approve a special assessment in order to maintain the county’s pest control program, e.g., mosquitoes and rodents. Ballots must be returned and received on or before July 7. If you would like to know more about this issue and its consequences, visit https://idyllwildtowncrier.com/2015/06/01/mosquito-vector-ballot-questions/.
Last week was an opportunity for the Idyllwild Fire Protection District officials to review their current-year budget. During the first six months of 2014-15, IFPD’s expenditures exceeded its revenues by nearly $285,000. But thanks to a windfall of about $50,000 this year, the commission projected a $30,000 net income by June 30. The additional expected…
Editor’s note: At its Jan. 19 meeting, the Fern Valley Water District Board of Directors selected George Rowell as the fifth director. He replaces Charles Wix, who resigned in 2017. Since Rowell did not campaign for the position, the Town Crier interviewed him so the community would have some knowledge of the new water director….
