Riverside County supervisors Tuesday are slated to formally declare a county emergency stemming from the Cranston Fire.
The Board of Supervisors 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 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 board’s Tuesday 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’s also accused of setting eight other blazes the same day, and has pleaded not guilty to multiple counts of arson.
The 13,000-acre wildfire is nearly 60 percent contained, and some of the areas previously evacuated have been re-opened, though Apple Canyon, Lake Hemet and Mountain Center remain under evacuation orders, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Gov. Jerry Brown proclaimed an emergency for Riverside County on Thursday because of the blaze, which local, state and federal firefighters are expected to have fully contained next week.