The Cranston Fire from July 25 to July 30
Wednesday, July 25, the third of four consecutive days of heat warning, started with blue skies, hardly any clouds, but hot. No one had any idea how hot the day and days that followed would get.
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Suspected arsonist arraigned and in custody
On Friday, Riverside County District Attorney Michael Hestrin announced that Brandon N. McGlover, 32, of Temecula, was charged with 15 felony counts related to nine separate fires, of which the largest was the Cranston Fire. The nine arson fires were all set the same day, July 25, and were in the Idyllwild, Anza and Sage…
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Cranston Fire: end of day 6
The fire’s footprint remains about the same 13,140 acres, but containment continues to improve. At a meeting of community residents, which more than hundred attended, nearly filling the Idyllwild School gymnasium, Incident Management Team Commander Jerry McGowan reported that containment had improved to 82 percent by Monday evening. The next concern is rain and thunderstorms…
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Cranston Fire: Highway 74
The Cranston Fire burned up to and across both Highways 74 and 243. Currently Hwy 243 from Idyllwild to Mountain Center is closed to through traffic. The only access to Idyllwild is Hwy 2443 from Banning. The damage to Hwy 74 is more extensive. According to Terri Kasinga, Chief, Public and Media Affairs for Caltrans…
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Cranston Fire, Monday, July 30
Monday morning, the Incident Management Team reported the size of the Cranston Fire is 13,139 acres. It has grown nine acres over night and containment remains, as reported Sunday evening, at 57 percent. “It was a good night, pulled hose in alpha and bravo,” said Operation Chief Chris Childers during the morning briefing. “It’s looking…
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SCAQMD Extends Smoke Advisory Due to Cranston Fire
This advisory is in effect through Tuesday morning. SCAQMD will issue an update if additional information becomes available. A wildfire, named the Cranston Fire, is burning to the east of Hemet in Riverside County within the San Bernardino National Forest. The burn area was last reported at 13,139 acres with 57 percent containment. Southerly winds…
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Cranston Fire UPDATE: Sunday, 6:55 p.m.
The Cranston Fire Incident Management Team has issued its Initial Damage Report: Twelve buildings were destroyed — seven single-residence structures and five other minor structures. An additional single-residence structure sustained minor damage, and an additional minor structure was not destroyed, but sustained major damage. Three more single-residence structures were affected by the blaze without being considered…
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Non-residents will be permitted up Hill today
According to the public information staff at the Cranston Fire camp, anyone, including nonresidents, will be permitted access, and were as of earlier this morning, to Pine Cove and Idyllwild today. The only open road is Highway 243 from Banning. Drivers should be careful because long delayed and needed supplies for local groceries and restaurants…
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Cranston Fire community meeting
The Cranston Fire Incident Management Team has announced a community meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, July 30, at Idyllwild School.
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During the Cranston Fire
The Cranston Fire burned thousand of acres around Idyllwild and caused the town to be evacuated. During the fire, several significant events occurred here and elsewhere. Sheriff’s vigilance. One reason many people fear evacuation is the concern that potential looters have been notified that the area is full of vacant houses. Idyllwild Fire Chief praised…
