243 Fire and a vehicle drives off Highway 243

ByJP Crumrine
a two-story, 4000 square foot home was fully involved in flames at 25000 Hwy. 243 near Foster Lake Rd. Flames shot sky high as fire fighters worked to get it under control.

Wednesday night, May 22, was busy and dangerous for local fire crews.
A house on Highway 243 near Foster Lake burned. The “243’ Fire was reported about 11:45 p.m.

“We and Station 23 [Pine Cove] reached the scene about the same time,” said Capt. James Reyes, Idyllwild Fire Department. “It was on hill and tough to get to. Power lines were down and the right side was spewing flames."

A fire fighter from Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire Station 23 out of Pine Cove fights the blaze.

Five engine companies responded and 23 firefighters were on the scene according to the CAL FIRE press release. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. No injuries were reported. While the Highway was closed for several hours, it is now reopened.

Hoses and fire trucks take over Hwy. 243 late Wednesday night after reports of a fully involved residencial structure fire. Idyllwild Fire and Cal Fire/Riverside County Fire were on scene through the early morning hours of Thursday extinguishing the flames.

In an unrelated incident, prior to the fire occurring, Idyllwild Fire responded to a car going over the side of Highway 243 near Marion Ridge Drive. No injuries occurred at this incident either, Reyes said.
The vehicle tumbled nearly 150 feet according to the CHP report.

Idyllwild Fire personnel talk with Andrew Philips, 29 (center) of Idyllwild after he rolled his Honda CRV down an embankment approximately 120 feet Wednesday night around 9 p.m., according to CHP Officer Chris Blondon. Philips was driving north on Hwy. 243 near Saunders Meadow when he lost control, went airborne and rolled down the embankment.

All photos by Jenny Kirchner.

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