Fire in Mountain Center darkens Palm Springs ...

[Florian]

From Palm Springs can see huge flames along the Desert Divide near Antsell Rock and Apache Peak. Hard to tell exactly where thru the smoke. Very sad.

-Florian

[Mojavewanderer]

According to my source with Idyllwild Fire, the ranger station above Mountain Center has burned, but the propane tank yard next door was saved. The fire started near McCall Park, and missed Mountain Center. Idyllwild is in no danger.

[Florian]

I think the flames i saw earlier were a bit farther south around Fobes Saddle. Still sucks.

-Florian

[cynthia23]

Thanks for all this info, everyone. MojaveWanderer, do you know where, exactly, the fire is burning right now? It's not at all clear to me. Where is it in relation to Lake Hemet, or the intersection of 74 and 243?

[scottmac]

Cynthia,

The images and reports I have viewed are from Apple Canyon Road - right across hwy. 74 from Hemet Lake.

Apple Canyon Road starts at the entrance to Hurkey Creek Park (where we spent the week of the forth, actually riding and driving up this road).

Here is a link to the map:

http://goo.gl/maps/s9nFj

And pix from Press Enterprise:

http://www.pe.com/photos/photos-news/20130715-mountain-fire-blaze-burns-1000-acres.ece

[cynthia23]

Thanks for that info ScottMac. As a fellow parent (our kids are classmates) I know you empathize with worried moms! The people at the Idyllwild Arts Camp have told me they're ready with busses if they need to evacuate. Hopefully they won't need to. It sounds like from what Florian says that the flames have gone all the way to the top of the Desert Divide. I'm sure everything will be okay so long as the wind doesn't change direction. Still, it's not reassuring to read (as I just did, a few minutes ago) in the Idyllwild Town Crier website that they have lost contact with the emergency radio station--it's gone offline. Now the only way they have to notify people to evacuate is via the internet.

[halhiker]

I was in the Tahquitz Fire Lookout and saw it happen. It was hard to tell exactly where it started but looked like Keenwild. It was amazing how quickly it grew and also amazing how quickly they got planes and helicopters on it. I stayed in the tower about an hour and a half after it started but then hiked out. By the time I reached Humber Park it was HUGE. I have some pictures but just have to figure out how to post them. I never do that even after all these years.[/img]

[arocknoid]

inciweb now includes info and maps for this fire:

http://www.inciweb.org/incident/3516/


Outlook
Growth Potential: Extreme
Terrain Difficulty: High

yikes

[bytebit]

IDYLLWILD (CBSLA.com) — A brush fire burning in the Riverside County mountains has grown to 2,400 acres, but remained at five percent containment Tuesday.

The Mountain Fire, which broke out around 1:45 p.m. Monday, has forced the mandatory evacuation of 20 homes and the Living Free Animal Sanctuary, the Riverside County Fire Department said.

The American Red Cross has established evacuation centers at Hemet High School, 41701 E. Stetson Avenue in Hemet and Hamilton High School, located at 57430 Mitchell Road in Anza.

An animal evacuation site has been set up at San Jacinto Animal Shelter, 581 S. Grand Avenue, officials said.

Authorities have closed the southbound lanes of Highway 74 between Cranston and Highway 243, between Idyllwild and Hemet.

More than 400 firefighters, eight helicopters, seven air tankers, nine water tenders and six bulldozers were fighting the blaze.

One firefighter suffered a minor injury and was transported to a local hospital for treatment.

It was unclear how the fire began.

[Florian]

It was hard to tell exactly through all the smoke last night but looked like the fire was burning down in East Fork Palm Canyon (Jo Pond trail) or maybe Murray Canyon. Haven't found an online map that shows the fires perimeter yet. Amazing how fast the fire traveled from it's starting point.

Palm Springs is blanketed in ash this morning and the air makes your eyes sting.

-Florian