A week-old wildfire near Idyllwild that has burned 13,139 acres, destroyed 12 buildings and damaged five others was 89 percent surrounded Wednesday, with full containment expected on Aug. 9.
Nearly 900 personnel are still battling the Cranston Fire, which began just before noon last Wednesday off Highway 74 in the San Jacinto Mountains between Hemet and Mountain Center, just east of the Cranston Fire Station. They are focused on holding and patrolling all containment lines and suppressing all fire sources located within 200 feet of containment lines, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
Crews have taken advantage of good humidity in the evening and early morning hours to reduce the spread of the flames.
Residents of the Mountain Center, Bonita Vista, Apple Canyon, Hurkey Creek and the surrounding areas remain evacuated, but fire officials are expected to lift the evacuation orders for Mountain Center and Apple Canyon beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday.
Emergency management officials warn those entering previously evacuated areas to watch for charred trees, utility poles and other debris on the roads. Residents are also being advised to throw away perishable food because of the loss of refrigeration.
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 from the Hemet city limits to Lake View Drive and Highway 243 is closed from Lower Saunders Meadow Road to the intersection with Highway 74, but Caltrans announced that the highways would be partially reopened to residents, business owners and business employees starting at 8 a.m. Thursday.
Highway 74 will reopen from Lake Hemet to Mountain Center down to McGaugh Road with a pilot car escort, while Highway 243 will reopen from Highway 74 to Keen Wild, the San Jacinto Ranger Station in Idyllwild, also with a pilot car escort, according to Caltrans.
Continuing mop-up and repairs by firefighters and Southern California Edison crews necessitate the pilot car escort, Caltrans officials said.
Residents were advised that power has not been restored to all areas yet.
Three firefighters were injured last week battling the blaze, which authorities believe was deliberately set by a Temecula man who’s also accused of setting eight other blazes.
Brandon N. McGlover, 32, was arrested about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday near Newport Road and State Street in Hemet and charged two days later with 15 felony counts. He pleaded not guilty and is being held in lieu of $3.5 million bail pending a Sept. 24 felony settlement conference.
Several campgrounds and hiking areas within San Jacinto Mountains State Park remain closed. The public can call (909) 383-5688 for information on the closures.