As smoke from the nearby Cranston fire brought smoke to our Morongo basin and turned the sun and moon blood-red, yesterday was a long day for more than 1,000 firefighters enduring triple-digit temperatures as they worked to slow the fire, which grew to 11,500 acres, with 3 percent containment this morning. The arson-sparked fire has destroyed five homes, forced 6,000 people to evacuate and cut power to mountain communities. Almost 5,000 structures remained threatened and officials are working to restore power, as the flames damaged the region’s infrastructure. The severity of the fire prompted Governor Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency. Communities under mandatory evacuation orders are Pine Cove, Fern Valley, Cedar Glen, Idyllwild, Apple Canyon, Mountain Center, Lake Hemet, northern Garner Valley and Hurkey Creek. Many campgrounds and trails in Mount San Jacinto State Park and the San Bernardino National Forest are closed. The Pacific Crest Trail, north of Highway 74, is among them. The man suspected of setting the fire, Brandon N. McGlover, 32, of Temecula, is expected to be arraigned today.
Southern California Edison reported more than 9,000 customers in the Cranston fire area were without power. Smoke and ash have resulted in unhealthy air quality for residents in the San Jacinto Valley and mountains, prompting the local air district to issue a smoke advisory through Friday morning.
For more information on the Cranston Fire, visit the Incident Information System website at:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/6032/
