by Wildhorse » Sun Jul 29, 2018 4:26 pm
Pitownpi, thanks for this map. It helps to understand what happened.
It appears that the Mountain Fire, and relatively mild winds in a favorable direction, effectively reduced the potential of Cranston fire. SW Idyllwild was largely protected initially by the fuel break and fortunate wind speed and direction, even while five houses burned. The Mountain fire, with the help of water drops, again along with fortunate wind speed and direction, further protected Idyllwild and Tahquitz Valley. The Mountain Fire effectively created a huge fuel break. The Cranston fire has expanded that fuel break. The whole mountain range will become a fuel break if this trend continues.
(I don't like the term "fuel" for trees and other plant life. But that is a term frequently used by people who advocate forest thinning or clear-cutting for the sake of protecting people and their houses and other economic assets.)
This was a bad fire. It hurt wildlife and people. Some people lost houses. Many others suffered trauma that will have lingering effects, even permanent effects. All of us have lost the forest as it was. It was caused by an arsonist who may have timed the fire to coincide with a heat wave. I am glad the fire is largely over. But the effects on people and wildlife continue. In spite of it, I expect people to keep building in the forest and continue to use it for entertainment and economic gain.