Crime & Safety

MOUNTAIN FIRE PHOTOS: Property Damage, Watershed Damage, Firefighters, Pilots

The Mountain Fire kept chewing through fuel Tuesday July 16 and prompted evacuations at Camp Ronald MacDonald, at 56400 Apple Canyon Road, further down canyon from where homes, mobile homes and other structures were destroyed Monday and overnight.

The Bonita Vista and Pine Springs neighborhoods lie near the end of Apple Canyon Road and they took the brunt of the Mountain Fire when it ripped east over a stretch of about four linear miles in a few hours on July 15.

Damage assessment teams on Tuesday came up with the following summary of property damaged and destroyed by the fast-moving blaze that started Monday near Highway 243 and SR 74.

In Bonita Vista, three residences and three mobile homes were destroyed, and one residence sustained damages, Forest Service officials said in a Tuesday afternoon update.

In Pine Springs, one commercial building, a workshop, garage, and cabin were destroyed.

"In addition to the above residences, there was a total of 11 outbuildings and 4-6 vehicles destroyed," Forest Service officials said.

Further up Apple Canyon Road, there were no damages at the Zen Mountain Center. But the massive Apple Canyon watershed was devastated by the fire.

"It is important to note that while homes and buildings were destroyed or damaged, firefighters were able to defend and save a larger number of homes," Forest Service officials said their update.

"It is always important to remind homeowners that homes and building with proper clearances and fuels abatements always give firefighters better opportunities to successfully defend and save those homes, especially when defending those homes in the face of an advancing fire front."

The active fire and its smoldering burned area remained estimated at 8,000 acres Tuesday afternoon, and it was still considered 10 percent contained. But the blaze continued consuming fuel on mountain slopes and throwing up black, white, brown and gray plumes of smoke from multiple ridges east of Mountain Center.

Highway 243 was closed between Saunders Meadow Road and the junction with SR 74. Mandatory evacuations remained in effect for the Living Free Animal Sanctuary, the Fleming Ranch, Bonita Vista, the Zen Mountain Center, and for Andreas Canyon Club, south of Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs.

More than 2,200 personnel were assigned to fire Tuesday afternoon. They came from communities including Oak Glen, Big Bear, Murrieta, Santa Barbara, Arroyo Grande, and Poppet Flats.

They were supported by 15 helicopters and 10 planes, including a DC-10 flying out of the USFS San Bernardino Tanker Base, according to the Forest Service.

Evacuation centers were set up at Hemet High School and Hamilton High School in Anza. Small pets of evacuees were welcome at the San Jacinto Animal Shelter, 581 S. Grand Ave, San Jacinto.

The fire started before 2 p.m. July 15 near the junction of Highway 243 and SR 74. The cause remained under investigation.


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