51 Images That Show The Magnitude Of The Holy Fire From SWR

LAKE ELSINORE, CA — As the inferno burning in the Cleveland National Forest rages on, the massive smoke plume continues to cast a shadow over parts of Southern California. As of Friday afternoon, the Holy Fire had consumed more than 18,000 acres of decades-old vegetation and at least a dozen structures.

The attached 51 photos help tell the story of destruction and illustrate just some of the devastation from the blaze. The majority of the images were taken by Murrieta Photographer Mark Ritter and Murrieta Photographer Joe Fanaselle. Others were shared with Patch by readers, as noted on the images.

Gov. Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Orange and Riverside counties Thursday due to the effects of the blaze, allowing the state Office of Emergency Services to provide assistance to the counties.

The proclamation also waives various requirements for state agencies to procure materials, goods and services to assist with the response and recovery from the impacts of the fire, suspends the one-week waiting period to apply for unemployment benefits for people who have lost their jobs because of the fire, allows people who have lost their driver's license, vehicle registration certificate or certificate of title for their vehicles because of the fire to get free replacements and to get free replacements of birth, death, marriage and divorce certificates destroyed by the fire.

Brown's declaration came hours after Forrest Gordon Clark was charged with aggravated arson damaging at least five inhabited structures, arson of inhabited property, arson of forest and criminal threats, all felonies, as well as two misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest, according to Assistant District Attorney Chris Duff.

The 51-year-old Clark could face 10 years to life in prison. He also faces sentencing enhancements for arson of multiple structures.

SEE ALSO:

• Holy Fire At 18,137 Acres: 'We Cannot Get Ahead Of The Fire'
  
• RivCo Warns Of Dangers Of Cleaning Up 'Toxic' Ash From Holy Fire
• 26 Incredible Images Of The Holy Fire As Seen From SWR
• Mendocino-Complex Fire In Photos: California's Largest Fire Ever

— All images by Mark Ritter unless otherwise noted from: Joe Fanaselle, Mark Dennis, Brandon Griffin and Jazon Zite / City News Service contributed to this report.