Cranston Fire in Idyllwild: 13,118 acres burned; 29 percent contained
IDYLLWILD, Calif. (KABC) -- The Cranston Fire in Riverside County is on its fourth day on Saturday and has burned over 13,000 acres.
The fire, located in the Idyllwild area, is approximately 13,118 acres and 29 percent contained, according to multiple fire agencies working together to fully contain the brush fire.
More than 1,700 firefighters are battling the wildfire, which destroyed at least five homes. The emergency personnel represented a slew of agencies, including Cal Fire, the Riverside and Los Angeles County fire departments and the San Bernardino National Forest agency.
About 7,000 people are evacuated and several roads remain closed off. Nearly 5,000 structures are threatened.
On Saturday, crews removed debris and cut hazardous trees in Pine Cove, Apple Canyon and other populated areas to prevent flames from spreading.
Cranston Fire map: Where Idyllwild brush fire is burning
Fire officials said weather conditions are also helping out.
"Over the last day, especially today, it started to cool off," explained Lee Beyer of the U.S. Forest Service. "We've got a little bit more humidity than we've had previous days, so that's helping. In the next couple of days, we're starting to anticipate more of a monsoonal flow...bringing in higher humidities."
The South Coast Air Quality Management District also issued a smoke advisory for the region.
Gov. Jerry Brown on Thursday declared a state of emergency and ordered California's Office of Emergency Services to provide government assistance to Riverside County, and suspended a one-week waiting period for unemployment insurance benefits for those unemployed as a result of the Cranston Fire.
The blaze began about noon Wednesday as the result of arson, according to authorities. A Temecula man, 32-year-old Brandon N. McGlover, was charged for allegedly igniting several fires in Riverside County, including the Cranston Fire.
The Riverside County Sheriff's Department conducted evacuations in the following areas:
-Apple Canyon Area
-Cedar Glen
-Camp Scherman Girlscout Camp
-Fern Valley
-Garner Valley
-Hurkey Creek Area
-Idyllwild
-Lake Hemet Area
-Mountain Center Community
-Mt San Jacinto State Park
-Pine Cove
-There is also an evacuation warning in Paradise Corner
An evacuation center has been setup at Banning High School (100 W. Westward Ave. Banning) and Hamilton High School (57430 Mitchell Rd. Anza).
Brown's declaration also applied to Northern California's Shasta County, where the Carr Fire has burned more than 127 square miles and has taken the life of a Redding firefighter, bulldozer operator and three family members.
Road Closures
-HWY 74 from Borco Street in the City of Hemet to HWY 371 at Paradise Corner
-HWY 243 from Banning to intersection of HWY 243 and HWY 74 (residents north of McGovern Rd may enter on HWY 243 from Banning)
Recreation Closures
Mt. San Jacinto State Park:
-Desert View Trail
-Little Round Valley Campground
-Long Valley Trail
-Mountain Station
-Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
-Round Valley Campground
-Round Valley Trail
-San Jacinto Peak Trail
-Strawberry Junction Campground
-Tamarack Valley Campground
-Wellmans Divide Trail
San Bernardino National Forest:
-Black Mountain Group Campground
-Boulder Basin Campground
-Cedar Springs Trail 4EI7
-Dark Canyon Campground
-Deer Springs Campground
-Deer Springs Trail to Suicide Rock 3E17 to 3E33
-Devil's Slide Trail
-Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail 3E07
-Fern Basin Campground
-Fobes Trail 4E04
-Fuller Ridge
-Humber Park
-Hurkey Creek Campground
-Lake Fulmor Day Use Area
-Lake Hemet Picnic Area
-Little Round Valley Campground
-Marion Mountain Campground
-Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) N of State Highway 74
-San Jacinto Wilderness
-Seven Pines Trail 2E13
-Skunk Cabbage Trail 3E42
-South Ridge Trail 3E08
-Spitler Peak Trail 3E22
-Stone Creek Yellow Post Sites
-Strawberry Creek
-Tahquitz Peak Fire Lookout
Animal Shelters
Residents can call 951-358-7329 for direct assistance with moving animals.
- Large animals can be dropped off to Dysart Equestrian Park - 2101 W Victory Ave in Banning.
- Small Animals can also be dropped off at Dysart Equestrian Park - 2101 W. Victory Ave. in Banning. Animal Services will transfer them to the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus.
- San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus at 581 S. Grand in San Jacinto is accepting all animals, both domestic and large animals.
- Coachella Valley Animal Campus located at 72050 Pet Land Place in Thousand Palms is open for small animals only.
