Crime & Safety

MOUNTAIN FIRE UPDATE: Blaze Burns 42 Square Miles, 3,400+ Personnel, Evacuation Warning for Pine Cove

For Saturday July 20 updates on the Mountain Fire click here.

Update 7:01 p.m. 
The Mountain Fire near Idyllwild burned an estimated 27,179 acres - more than 42 square miles - by Friday evening, according to a Forest Service update.

By 6 p.m. July 19 there were an estimated 3,478 personnel assigned to the fire, and they were supported by 29 aircraft including two DC-10 tankers, incident commanders said.

The Mountain Fire, which started Monday July 15 near Highway 243 and SR 74, was considered 15 percent contained as of Friday evening.

Evacuations remained in effect for Idyllwild and Fern Valley, and an evacuation warning was issued earlier Friday for Pine Cove.

Update 5:45 p.m. 
Local, county and state officials are advising residents of Idyllwild, Fern Valley, Apple Canyon, Hurkey Creek and Pine Springs to boil water due the Mountain Fire's effects on local watersheds, according to a Riverside County health statement:

BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING

Failure to follow this advisory could result in stomach or intestinal illness.

Due to the recent Mountain Fire effecting communities in the San Jacinto Mountains near Pine Springs, Fern Valley, Apple Canyon, Hurkey Creek and Idyllwild, the California Department of Public Health in conjunction with the Riverside County Department of Environmental Health and Riverside County Public Health Department, and Pine Creek and Zen Mountain Water Systems are advising residents of areas near Pine Springs Camp, Ronald McDonald Camp, Bonita Vista Road, Living Free Animal Sanctuary, Fleming Ranch, May Valley Road, Zen Center, Hurkey Creek, and Apple Canyon Road to use boiled tap water or bottled water for drinking, ice and cooking purposes as a safety precaution.

DO NOT DRINK THE WATER WITHOUT BOILING IT FIRST.

Bring all water to a boil, let it boil for one minute, and let it cool before using, or use bottled water. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking and food preparation until further notice. Boiling kills bacteria and other organisms in the water.

An alternative method of disinfection for residents that are not able to boil their water is to use fresh, unscented, liquid household bleach. To do so, add 8 drops - or 1/8 teaspoon - of bleach per gallon of clear water or 16 drops - or 1/4 teaspoon - per gallon of cloudy water, mix thoroughly, and allow it to stand for 30 minutes before using. A chlorine-like taste and odor will result from this disinfection procedure and is an indication that adequate disinfection has taken place.

Water disinfection tablets may also be used by following the manufacturer’s instructions. We will inform you when tests show that water is safe to drink and you no longer need to boil your water.

We anticipate resolving the problem within 2-3 days.

Please share this information with all the other people who drink this water, especially those who may not have received this notice directly - for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses.

For more information call:

Zen Mountain (951) 659-5272; Pine Springs Ranch (951) 659-4131

California Department of Public Health – Drinking Water Field Operations Branch - District Office at (619) 525-4354.

Local Environmental Health Jurisdiction: Riverside County at (951) 955- 8982.

Update 4:20 p.m. 
Two lawmakers in Riverside and San Diego counties have requested a California state of emergency declaration for the Mountain Fire burning near Idyllwild.

Assemblymembers Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert, and Brian Jones, R-Santee, submitted a request to Governor Brown and California Office of Emergency Services Director Ghilarducci.

"The Idyllwild fire has already burned more than 26,000 acres and the County of Riverside signed a Declaration of Emergency on Thursday," assembly staff said in an announcement Friday July 19. "Last night, the fire entered San Jacinto Park and has already burned between 450 and1,000 acres. This is also the critical habitat of the endangered Bighorn Sheep."

Nestande said: "This fire is disastrous for our community. Lives and homes are threatened and the financial damage is already astronomical. We are working closely with local and state agencies to make sure that our first responders have all the resources they need to continue battling this blaze. We ask that you pray for their safety and the safety of the residents that are in harm's way."

The Mountain Fire is "extremely dangerous and is exacerbated by fuel conditions in very steep, rugged, and inaccessible terrain," assmbly staff said. "Cal Fire has determined that the conditions are similar to that of the Yarnell Fire in Arizona that claimed the lives of 19 elite firefighters, two of which were Hemet residents."

Jones said:  "These conditions make for a perfect storm of devastation for the communities of Idyllwild, Fern Valley and Morrison Ranch. I join with Assemblyman Nestande in any support my office can provide and offer prayers of safety – for homeowners and firefighters alike.

Update 3 p.m. 
The chance of afternoon thunderstorms in the San Jacinto Mountains remains a concern for firefighters battling the Mountain Fire.

"Thunderstorms today could bring strong and gusty winds and the potential for dry lightning strikes," the National Weather Service advised earlier Friday July 19.

More than 3,300 personnel were assigned to the fire, which according to the Forest Service had cost an estimated $8.6 million as of 6 a.m. Friday.

Update 2:05 p.m. The 38-square-mile Mountain Fire has prompted an evacuation warning for Pine Cove, the town neighboring Idyllwild, which is already under evacuation orders.

Here is a statement issued at 1:34 p.m. Friday July 19:

Riverside County Sheriff's Department is issuing an evacuation warning for the community of Pine Cove. If residents feel threatened or may need additional time to evacuate we recommend they evacuate now. We are asking residents to prepare for a possible mandatory evacuation order. We encourage residents to make all preparations to safely evacuate the area should the evacuation order be given.

This evacuation warning is to prepare Pine Cove residents in the event that a mandatory evacuation is issued in the near future.

Riverside Sheriff's Department is maintaining security patrols of Idyllwild, Pine Cove and surrounding communities.

Evacuation route for Pine Cove residents:
HWY 243 North towards Banning

Evacuation Centers:
Hamilton High School, Anza 
Hemet High School, Hemet 
Beaumont High School

Update 1:01 p.m. 
The Mountain Fire, which was burning two to three miles from Idyllwild, has prompted the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians to close Tahquitz and Indian Canyons.

The canyon areas, owned and maintained by the tribe, would typically be open on a summer schedule, which includes Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, according to the tribe.

The Mountain Fire, which started Monday July 15 near Highway 243 and SR 74 in Mountain Center, had burned an estimated 24,818 acres - more than 38 square miles - as of Friday morning, according to the Forest Service.

More than 6,000 acres of the total burned so far are on the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians reservation, according to the tribe.

Update 9:30 a.m. 
The Mountain Fire grew to nearly 25,000 acres Friday - with containment still only estimated at 15 percent - and crews feared the day's weather conditions could lead to "extreme fire behavior" and rapid growth, the U.S. Forest Service reports.

"Fire conditions today are conducive to extreme fire behavior given unstable atmospheric conditions," USFS Spokesman John Miller said in Friday morning's update.  "A large smoke column could form over the fire and then produce thunderstorms. Strong down drafts winds could develop, potentially causing spot fires and rapid fire growth."

Overnight, though, firefighters took advantage of cooler temperatures.

"Under the cover of night and with the advantages of lower temperatures and higher moisture recovery, firefighter crews worked determinedly to improve upon the southeastern fire containment and to keep fire at bay from the Trails End community," Miller said.

"At the northwest flank of the fire, crews have been building direct handline to corral the fire away from the Idyllwild and surrounding communities," he said.  "Night air operations continue to support firefighters, increasing crew safety and capabilities of fire suppression operations."

Here are the latest fire facts on the Mountain incident:

  • 24,818 acres at 15% containment
  • 3,316 personnel including 44 crews, 263 engines, 15 dozers, and 20 helicopters
  • 23 structures have been destroyed by fire including 7 residences during the first day of the fire
  • Total cost to date is 8.6 million dollars

Residents from Apple Canyon, Bonita Vista, Fobes Canyon, and Spring Canyon Ranch were being allowed back into their communities Friday, according to Miller.

Highway 243 remains closed as of Friday morning from the intersection of Highway 74 to the Nature Center, south of Pine Cove.  All other evacuations and road closures remain in place, Miller said.

Posted 11:51 p.m. 
The Mountain Fire consumed fuel east of Tahquitz Peak and the jagged ridge protecting Idyllwild, but pilots pounded the blaze when it picked up in the afternoon and incident commanders estimated the size of the burned area remained the same as of 6 p.m. Thursday: 22,800 acres.

The blaze kept churning nonetheless until darkness and its orange plume loomed over Tahquitz Rock in the setting sun. The Mountain Fire was considered 15 percent contained by 6 p.m. July 18, according to the Forest Service.

"As weather conditions continue to change the fire remains active on the northwest and continues to threaten the community of Idyllwild," incident supervisors said.

Evacuations for Idyllwild and Fern Valley remained in effect Thursday night. Strike teams in Idyllwild did structure protection assessments in some neighborhoods. 

Firefighters on the ground worked in rocky terrain and high temperatures, and their numbers grew to an estimated total of more than 3,300.

Investigators have determined ignition of the Mountain Fire was "human caused" but they have not emphasized it was arson, Bob Poole of the Forest Service said Thursday afternoon in Idyllwild.

"As expected, winds aloft came down towards the East and caused fire to spread in multiple directions," John Miller of the Forest Service said in an update. "To the North, the fire continued significant progression in the Tahquitz meadows area, but was held at the ridge with crews working the edge of the fire and aircraft aggressively applying water and retardant at the head of the fire throughout the day."

Overnight into Friday, firefighters expect to continue on containment lines.

"The fire remains active in the North above Idyllwild and South near Trails End," Miller said.

Other updates:

- Residents have been allowed to return to Apple Canyon and Bonita Vista areas, where the threat is considered diminished.

- As of Thursday evening, SR 74 was open to all traffic.

- A hard closure remained in place on Highway 243 south of Pine Cove.

Find out what's happening in Redlands-Loma Lindawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

According to the Forest Service, more than 800 evacuees stayed overnight at Hemet High School and more than 100 stayed overnight at Beaumont High.

A total of 23 structures have been destroyed by the Mountain Fire, including seven residences during the first day of the fire, Monday July 15.

Find out what's happening in Redlands-Loma Lindawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Total cost of fighting the Mountain Fire by 6 p.m. Thursday was estimated at $6.1 million.

For previous Patch coverage of the Mountain Fire click the following links:


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