At the fire briefing for the Cranston Fire this morning, the Incident Management Team expects to start repopulating Idyllwild-area communities some time today. They gave no times. They’re expecting thunderstorms today and that may affect what time re-population will begin. The repopulating will only happen from the Banning side as Highway 74 remains closed. Also,…
Late Saturday, the Incident Management Team announced “The evacuation order is lifted for Garner Valley, south of Morris Ranch Rd. Proof of residency required. Road access is available from Highway 74 at Highway 371. All other evacuation orders remain in effect. Use caution returning home.” The Riverside County Environmental Health Department also wants to remind…
During hte Cranston Fire, power was out from Wednesday afternoon until Friday afternoon. Here are some safety thoughts courtesy of the Cranston Fire team: During energy shortages the California Independent System can order rolling blackouts. The utility companies divide their customers into “blocks” that are randomly blacked out one by one. This bulletin is provided…
This evening, the Incident Management Team reported that the Cranston Fire held to 13,100 acres today, Saturday, but containment improved to 29 percent. The Cranston Fire Update reported, “Great strides were made toward containment of the fire with crews mopping up to prevent escape.” This was probably aided by the addition of another 400 firefighting…
Frank White, a volunteer, unloading supplies at the Banning High School Evacuation Center. Photos by Holly Parsons
Idyllwild, California is a small town, with fewer than 4,000 permanent residents, in the unincorporated area of Riverside County, California, with almost 2.2 million residents. Idyllwild barely has 1/500th of the county. But our representatives are much aware of the community and the imminent threat and danger that the Cranston Fire has caused and still…
Highway 243 is closed from Banning to Highway 74. However, residents north of McGovern Road in Pine Cove with ID can enter at Banning, according to the Cranston Fire Incident Management Team. Highway 74 is closed from the city of Hemet to Highway 371 at Paradise Corner.
Until the evacuation has been lifted for Idyllwild, mail may be picked up at the San Jacinto Post Office.
Helping to protect Idyllwild from devastation are many local firefighters, from Idylwild Fire, Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service, San Jacinto Ranger District. Here are few:
