As Cranston Fire grows, firefighters try to protect Pine Cove homes near Idyllwild – Press Enterprise

USA



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Cranston firefighters fighting near Idyllwild had planned to take up positions in the densely populated Pine Cove area on Thursday night, hoping the flames would settle down as they often do when the sun goes to bed

. That's where the houses are, "said Lyn Sieliet, a spokeswoman for the US Forest Service. The fire crews aimed to keep the flames on the southern ridge line of the mountain

. The strategy that appeared late Thursday came at the end of a long day in which more than 1,000 firefighters underwent three-digit temperatures. from the fire, which has grown to 7500 acres, with 5 percent containment. The fire, possibly incendiary, destroyed five homes, forced 6,000 people to evacuate and cut electricity from several mountain communities.

Nearly 5,000 structures remained under threat.

The authorities were also working to restore the power of hundreds of residents. damaged the infrastructure of the region.

The severity of the fire and its effects prompted Governor Jerry Brown to declare the state of emergency, a law that relaxes some government regulations that could hinder recovery efforts and to grant special assistance.

firefighters were likely to end up in a bad and bad situation. The flames grow south-east towards a wilderness area designated by the federal government and devoid of population. The bad news: Due to the designation, no motorized vehicle is allowed on land, says Sieliet

This means that the fire will be fought from the air and by the foot crews who will fight the flames with all what they can wear.

"We have to adjust our tactics a bit, but we will continue to fight this fire aggressively," said Sieliet

The flames continued to Climb steep and rugged terrain Thursday through various types of extremely dry scrub, including manzanita, which burns more fiercely due to oil content. The 5% confinement at the end of the day accounted for the percentage of perimeter that the firefighters determined that the fire would no longer extend beyond.

No new combustion hearths have been reported; five were damaged or destroyed on Wednesday, the day the fire started off Highway 74 between Hemet and Mountain Center. Two firefighters suffered unspecified wounds.

Communities targeted by mandatory evacuation orders are Pine Cove, Fern Valley, Cedar Glen, Idyllwild, Apple Canyon, Mountain Center, Hemet Lake, Garner North Valley and Hurkey Creek. Residents of Pine Cove were allowed to return Wednesday night before the permit was canceled.

Residents of southern Garney Valley have been warned that evacuations are possible if conditions change.

Several campgrounds and trails on Mt. The State Park of San Jacinto and the National Forest of San Bernardino are closed. The Pacific Crest Trail, north of Highway 74, is among them

Those who stayed behind tried to make the most of it. The Red Kettle Restaurant remained open despite running on a generator and offering a limited menu. A man checked on the pets of the neighbors. Idyllwild Bake Shop and Brew distributed food and drink to the fire department. And Idyllwild Chevron stayed open long after normal business hours to power residents' vehicles and fire trucks.

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