Rain started falling on the Hill hours before sunrise this morning. By 3 p.m., about 1.3 inches had been recorded at the Idyllwild Fire Station. The U.S. Forest Service’s Keenwild Ranger Station had received about 1.1 inches. Further north, the Forest Service Vista Grande station has recorded 2.2 inches of rain. Communities in the San…

“… [L]arge fire potential will likely remain above normal across Southern California well into November,” was the conclusion of the latest “National Significant Wildland Fire Potential Outlook” from the Predictive Services unit at the National Interagency Fire Center. Despite the very wet winter, the high pressures during the past month have returned very warm and…

For 2014 and 2015, sections of the Pacific Crest Trail damaged by the Mountain Fire in July 2013 remain closed. The closure, from Cedar Springs Trail (mile 162.5) north to South Ridge Trail (mile 178), had forced hikers to walk beside Highway 74 to Mountain Center then on Highway 243 into Idyllwild. In certain sections…