Cranston Fire: 82% Contained; 100% Expected Aug. 9

IDYLLWILD, CA – The Riverside County Board of Supervisors Tuesday formally declared a county emergency stemming from the Cranston Fire near Idyllwild to secure grants and other assistance that may be needed in the aftermath.

The board was not in session when the monster blaze erupted south of Idyllwild in the San Bernardino National Forest last Wednesday, leaving county Emergency Management Department Director Bruce Barton to initiate an emergency declaration under his own authority.

However, that action was only temporary and had to be affirmed by the board, which voted 4-0 to make it official. Supervisor Marion Ashley was absent.

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PREVIOUS: TUESDAY, JULY 31, 8:57 a.m.

A wildfire in the Idyllwild area was 82 percent contained Tuesday morning after charring 13,139 acres, with full containment expected on Aug. 9, authorities said.

Riverside County supervisors, meanwhile, are scheduled Tuesday to formally declare a county emergency stemming from the Cranston Fire. The board was not in session when the blaze erupted south of Idyllwild in the San Bernardino National Forest last Wednesday, leaving county Emergency Management Department Director Bruce Barton to initiate an emergency declaration under his own authority. However, that action is only temporary and must be affirmed by a vote of the board.

"Thousands of residents have been impacted by the fire," Barton said in documents posted to the policy agenda. "The ongoing fire and aftermath will necessitate resources from both state and local entities. The proclamation of Local Emergency begins the process to receive resources for assistance to first responders, residents and others impacted by the fire."

The emergency declaration can be re-affirmed by the board every 30 days, enabling the county to continue applying for assistance from the governor's Office of Emergency Services, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and others.

FEMA has already signed off on funding for "mitigation, management and control" efforts related to the Cranston Fire, which was allegedly ignited by 32-year-old Brandon N. McGlover of Temecula. He pleaded not guilty last week to multiple counts of arson and is scheduled to make another court appearance on Sept. 24 in Murrieta.

Gov. Jerry Brown proclaimed an emergency for Riverside County on Thursday because of the blaze.

More than 1,200 firefighters are battling the Cranston Fire, focused on mopping up along the fire's edge to prevent any flames from escaping containment lines and on completing a containment line on the northeast portion of the fire, where the most significant threat to the community existed, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

Full containment is estimated on or around Aug. 9, according to Cal Fire.

Residents of the Mountain Center, Apple Canyon and Lake Hemet areas remain evacuated, but fire officials continue to evaluate whether to allow them to return.

Residents on Sunday were allowed to return to mountain hamlets at Pine Cove, Cedar Glen and Fern Valley, as far south as Idyllwild. And on the southwest flank of the danger area, residents were allowed to return to some evacuated ranches north of Anza.

Emergency management officials warned those entering previously evacuated areas to watch for charred trees, utility poles and other debris on the roads.

All U.S. Forest Service lands in the San Jacinto Ranger District and the adjacent Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument were ordered closed to public entry for 30 days. Highway 74 remains closed between Borco Street in Hemet and Morris Ranch Road in Garner Valley. Road closures also remain in effect on state Highway 243 south of Banning from Lower Saunders Meadow Road to Highway 74.

The Palms To Pines Highway between San Diego County and the Coachella Valley remains open.

Caltrans began work over the weekend to repair damage to state Routes 74 and 243 under a $5 million emergency contract.

Three firefighters were injured battling the blaze, which began just before noon Wednesday off Highway 74 in the San Jacinto Mountains between Hemet and Mountain Center, just east of the Cranston Fire Station.

About 4,900 structures were threatened at one point, with 12 buildings destroyed and five others damaged at the outset of the blaze, which investigators believe was deliberately set by the suspect accused of starting nine arson fires in southwest Riverside County on the same day.

The blaze damaged two miles of Southern California Edison power lines, causing electrical outages in Anza and surrounding unincorporated areas in Riverside County. Edison crews installed many new power poles Monday.

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which takes visitors to Mt. San Jacinto State Park, reopened at 10 a.m. Monday.

Authorities issued a smoke advisory for the region through Tuesday morning, advising that winds could bring smoke into various parts of Riverside County, including the Coachella Valley, Banning Pass, the Hemet/San Jacinto Valley, Perris Valley and Anza.

The public can call (909) 383-5688 for additional information.

• ALSO SEE: Rock Fire: 90% Contained, Evacs Lifted In Fire Near Fallbrook

-- Image via California Interagency Incident Management Team 1, Kevin Tidwell/City News Service contributed to this report