Cranston Fire Latest: 7,500 Acres, More Evacs, 688 Personnel

READ FRIDAY UPDATES ON THE CRANSTON FIRE HERE:

• Cranston Fire Day 3: 11,500 Acres, Containment Decreases, Map

THURSDAY, 5:30 p.m.: Fire crews continued their all-out assault Thursday on a fast-moving brush fire in the San Bernardino National Forest in Riverside County that has burned at least 7,500 acres, prompting the evacuation of thousands of people.

The Cranston Fire, which investigators suspect was intentionally set, was 5 percent contained as of 4:30 p.m. The blaze has destroyed five homes and prompted road closures and the evacuation of 3,200 people from nearly 2,200 homes in Idyllwild, Apple Canyon, the Lake Hemet area, Mountain Center, the Hurkey Creek area and Camp Scherman Girl Scout Camp since erupting around noon Wednesday off state Route 74 in the forest area between Hemet and Mountain Center, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

At 5:40 p.m., mandatory evacuations were expanded to include:

• Northside of Garner Valley
• All homes accessed from roads north of Hialeah Way

An evacuation warning was issued for:

• All homes south of Hialeah, including those accessed from Hialeah, are under evac warning through just south of Hwy 371

The fire was burning "with a rapid rate of spread" through timber, brush and chaparral, according to the USFS, which reported that nearly 700 firefighters from across the state were taking part in the containment efforts. Gov. Jerry Brown late Thursday morning issued a state of emergency in Riverside County. The emergency proclamation clears the way to provide needed state resources to battle the blaze.

Meanwhile, another fire broke out east of the Cranston Fire on Thursday, leading officials to issue an evacuation warning for residents in the Pinyon Pines area.

Officials anticipated the blaze could spread to a number of mountain communities, including Idyllwild, Mountain Center and Lake Hemet. Evacuation orders remain in effect for those areas, and were expanded midday Thursday to include the communities of Pine Cove, Fern Valley, and Cedar Glen.

A man suspected of setting multiple fires in southwest Riverside County, including one that became the Cranston fire, was arrested Wednesday.

Brandon N. McGlover, 32, of Temecula, was taken into custody about 12:30 p.m. near Newport Road and State Street in Hemet and booked into the Cois Byrd Detention Center in Murrieta on suspicion of five counts of arson to wildland.

Additional allegations are possible as the investigation continues, according to Cal Fire.

The last time the area burned was about five years ago, the Desert Sun reported.

Authorities established an evacuation center for residents and campers at Banning High School, 100 W. Westward Ave. Animals of all sizes can be taken to the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus at 581 S. Grand Ave.

Small and large animals can also be evacuated to Dysart Equestrian Park, 2101 W. Victory Ave. in Banning, but the small ones will be transferred to the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus. Residents can call (951) 358-7329 for assistance with moving animals.

Road closures include state Route 74 between the Cranston Fire Station and Lake Hemet, as well as state Route 243 between the communities of Pine Cove and Mountain Center, where authorities say flames jumped the highway near the Idyllwild Grinding Facility.

The blaze also prompted the Thursday afternoon closure of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which takes guests to Mt. San Jacinto State Park, not far from where the fire continues to rage and send black smoke into the surrounding area.

An excessive heat warning that had been expected to end Thursday was extended to midnight Friday, according to the National Weather Service.

Authorities issued a smoke advisory for the region, 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 advisory will be in effect through Friday morning.

A fire information call center for the public has been established at (909) 383-5688.

PREVIOUS UPDATES AS FOLLOWS:

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12:45 p.m. Thursday:

The out-of-control Cranston Fire burning in the San Bernardino National Forest has consumed nearly 5,000 acres as Thursday morning, according to fire officials. The latest update from the U.S. Forest Service put the blaze at 4,700 acres — unchanged from Wednesday night's update. There is still just five containment on the incident.

So far, 2,174 homes have been evacuated, affecting 3,200 people, the U.S.F.S. reported late Wednesday. As of Thursday morning, 688 personnel were assigned to the incident.

Meanwhile, a Temecula man has been arrested on suspicion of arson related to the fire, officials said Wednesday night.

As the wildfire continues to burn through timber, 2-foot tall brush and 6-foot-tall chaparral, the following communities are all under mandatory evacuation orders:

• Idyllwild
• Apple Canyon Area
• Lake Hemet Area
• Mountain Center Community
• Hurkey Creek Area
• Camp Scherman Girlscout Camp

An evacuation center for residents has been set up at Banning High School, 100 W. Westward Avenue. Separate pet evacuations centers are at:

• Large animals can be dropped off to Dysart Equestrian Park - 2101 W Vicotry 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.
• All animals (large and small) also accepted at San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus.

At this time, Highway 74 remains closed between the city of Hemet and Lake Hemet while Highway 243 is closed between Banning and Highway 74.

There are also several campground and hiking closures, as follows:

Mt. San Jacinto State Park

• Desert View Trail
• Round Valley Trail
• San Jacinto Peak Trail
• Wellmans Divide Trail

San Bernardino National Forest

• Dark Canyon Campground
• Black Mountain Group Campground
• Boulder Basin Campground
• Devil’s Slide Trail
• Fern Basin Campground
• Humber Park
• Lake Hemet Picnic Area
• Marion Mountain Campground
• Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) N of State Highway 74
• Tahquitz Peak Fire Lookout

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UPDATE Wednesday 6:30 p.m.:

A brush fire that might have been intentionally set erupted Wednesday in the San Bernardino National Forest, burning at least 3,000 acres, destroying at least one home and leading to road closures and evacuations of hundreds of homes in the area.

The Cranston Fire was reported at around noon off state Route 74 in the forest area between Hemet and Mountain Center, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The fire was burning "with a rapid rate of spread," according to the USFS. No injuries have been reported in connection with the blaze, which was zero percent contained as of late Wednesday afternoon.

By Wednesday evening, the forest service

reported that approximately 500 fire personnel were at the scene of the fire, including:

• 55 Engines
• 8 Crews
• 9 Dozers
• 5 Water Tenders
• 1 VLAT
• 10 Tankers
• 6 Helicopters
• 9 Fixed Wings

CHP and Hemet police officials tell Patch they assisted with stopping a driver who was wanted in connection to possibly starting the blaze.

"We received information... that they were looking for a white Honda as a possible arson suspect," Hemet Police Lt. Eric Dickson told Patch. "We had a detective find the vehicle shortly thereafter ... and stopped it in the area of Newport Road and Garnett Lane... we were able to detain the driver, contact the CalFire and they sent out an investigator who took custody of the driver."

Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for residents of Idyllwild, Mountain Center along McGaugh and McCall Park roads, and the communities of Pine Cove and Fern Valley.

"Leave the area immediately," a USFS Twitter post advised.

At least 110 homes in southwest Idyllwild have been evacuated, and officials said at least 600 more structures were threatened by the blaze.

Authorities have established an evacuation center for residents and campers at Banning High School, 100 W. Westward Ave. Small animals can also be evacuated to Banning High School, while animals of all sizes can be taken to the San Jacinto Valley Animal Campus at 581 S. Grand Ave.

Road closures include state Route 74 between the Cranston Fire Station and Lake Hemet, as well as state Route 243 between the communities of Pine Cove and Mountain Center, where authorities say flames jumped the highway near the Idyllwild Grinding Facility.

The fire has also taken out power to more than 7,700 Southern California Edison customers in the Idyllwild area, according to an SCE online outage map. Full restoration was expected at around 2 a.m. Thursday.

Authorities have also issued a smoke advisory for the region, 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 advisory will be in effect through Thursday morning.

A fire information call center for the public has also been established at (909) 383-5688.

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UPDATE 5:15 p.m.: The fire has scorched 1,200 acres, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

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UPDATE 3:30 p.m.: Officials tell Patch that the large fire burning in the mountains near Idyllwild may have been set intentionally.

According to CHP Officer Darren Meyer, at 12:24 p.m. — about 25 minutes after the Cranston Fire first broke out — the Hemet Police Department, the Riverside County Sheriff's Department and the CHP assisted in stopping a driver whom they had been told to "be on the lookout for possible involvement in the start of the fire."

Patch has reached out to the Hemet Police Department for more information and we'll provide updates as we learn more.

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IDYLLWILD, CA — A brush fire burning in the mountains south of the San Gorgonio Pass was sending a plume of smoke into the Riverside County region on Wednesday. As of 2 p.m., the fire — dubbed the Cranston fire — was estimated at 800 acres "with a rapid rate of spread."

San Bernardino National Forest officials say there are mandatory evacuations for southwest Idyllwild.

"Leave the area immediately," the agency said on Twitter.

Officials have closed down multiple area highways. Highway 74 is closed between the Cranston Fire station and Lake Hemet, while Highway 243 is closed between Pine Cove and Mountain Center, according to Rebecca Miller with the San Bernardino National Forest.

Miller tells Patch the fire was first reported at around noon and that it's currently zero percent contained. By 1 p.m., the fire was estimated at 200 acres in size — growing to 800 acres in just an hour's time.

It's unclear at this time how many people are affected by the evacuation orders.

So far, there is no word on any damages or injuries.

Though ABC7 News is reporting that the fire may have been intentionally set and that someone has been held for questioning, Miller said U.S. Forest Service officials are still investigating the cause of the blaze.

Personnel from the San Bernardino National Forest, the Riverside County Fire Department and the Riverside County Sheriff's Department are all assisting with the incident.

"Resources are continuing to arrive," the U.S. Forest Service said at 2 p.m.

Firefighters face triple-digit temperatures in the area, which is under an excessive heat warning on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Current view of the #PyroCumulus being generated by the #CranstonFire, seen all the way from our Rancho Bernardo office. #CAwx #Riverside pic.twitter.com/brJ87xqsz6
— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) July 25, 2018

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Main image credit: U.S. Forest Service / Images 2 and 3 courtesy: Mark Ritter / City News Service contributed to this report