Cranston Fire
A Collaborative Wildfire Prevention Success Story: Upper Dry Creek, Astro Camp, Westridge, and Southridge Treatments
The Cranston Fire Threatens Idyllwild
On the morning of July 25th, 2018, numerous arson fires began along State Route 74. The Cranston Fire, as it came to be called, consumed thousands of acres and posed a direct threat to the town of Idyllwild. A series of collaborative fire prevention treatments, however, ensured the town's safety.
While fire suppression heroics make the news, comparatively little attention is paid to the work that prevents disaster in the first place. This Success Story celebrates the collaborative preventative work that was instrumental in sparing the town of Idyllwild. It focuses on two groups of projects: the Astro Camp and Upper Dry Creek treatments, which are CALFIRE fuels thinning projects, and the USFS Westridge and Southridge fuel breaks.
At approximately 11:45 a.m. (PST), numerous arson fires were started along State Route 74, five miles east of the USFS Cranston Guard Station. During the first burning period, the fire consumed 4,500 acres, rapidly burning uphill toward the community of Idyllwild.
By 3:30 p.m. (PST), the fire had entered the Dry Creek drainage and crossed State Route 243 at Saunders Meadow Road. The fire was now aligned topographically and was threatening the community of Idyllwild.
The map to the right shows a rough perimeter of the Cranston fire. As fire likes to work up river drainages the threat to town grew considerably when it crossed State Route 243.
Fire History and Collaborative Prevention Treatments
Numerous factors contributed to hazardous fuel loading in the area. Severe drought led to a bark beetle epidemic so bad that in March 2003 the Governor of California declared a State of Emergency in Riverside, San Bernadino, and San Diego counties. Projects were launched to remove dead conifers, which in turn led to the emergence of a large amount of scrub oak and Southern California montane chaparral. This created hazardous fuel loading with the high potential to fuel a catastrophic wildfire.
To mitigate the threat, numerous agencies, including the Riverside County Mountain Area Safety Taskforce (MAST), in conjunction with CAL FIRE Riverside Unit, Riverside County Emergency Management Department, United States Forest Service San Jacinto District, Idyllwild Fire Protection District, and the Mountain Communities Fire Safe Council collaborated to prepare the San Jacinto Community Wildfire Protection Plan (SJCWPP). This collaborative work would be the key to the Cranston Fire success story.
Fire history
This region is no stranger to wildfires. The map to the left represents all fires that have occurred in the area since 1980, with the largest fires - those greater than 10,000 acres - named.
Idyllwild/Pine Cove is a registered "Community at Risk", with a static population of 3,874 full-time residents, which increases to four times that in summer, weekends and holidays
Multi-agency collaboration
Fortunately, collaborative fuel treatment projects had been made priorities in the area, and all of them came into play during the Cranston fire. Several projects were initiated to mitigate that risk.
Some of the projects that played a key role during the Cranston Fire include the Upper Dry Creek and Astro Camp fuels thinning treatments, as well as the USFS Westridge and Southridge fuel breaks
The map to the left highlights the interagency collaboration around fuels reduction projects in the area. USFS projects are in green, CALFIRE projects are in yellow.
Astrocamp and Upper Dry Creek
The Astrocamp and Upper Dry Creek treatments consist of around 70 acres, and offered opportunities to partner with local landowners through State Fire Assistance grants. Projects were completed in May 2018.
CAL FIRE Bautista Camp crews working along Highway 243 Astro Camp project.
Photo Credit: CAL FIRE Riverside Unit
Approximately 184 tons of chipped biomass were removed from both projects.
Photo Credit: CAL FIRE Riverside Unit
Dry Creek fuel loading before treatment.
Fuels this dense help spread fire more quickly, especially on a steep slope.
Dry creek after treatment. Brush removal like this prevents fire from spreading between tree canopies, slowing its advance.
Westridge and Southridge Fuel Breaks
Work on the Westridge and Southridge fuel breaks began in 1994 by the USFS and have been maintained in seven year cycles, with the last treatment in 2018.
Fuel breaks serve two important functions: they both slow a fire's advance as well as provide important access for suppression personnel and equipment.
In this video you can see the dramatic effect of successful CALFIRE treatments and USFS fuel breaks
Fire Prevention Success Story
The San Jacinto mountains have a long history of wildfire. The 2018 Cranston fire is a continuation of that history. But it could have been considerably worse.
In all, 13,139 acres were burned, four structures and eight outbuildings destroyed. Additionally, 2,739 structures were threatened and over 7,000 citizens were evacuated at the height of the fire. The fire was fully contained on August 10, 2018 with a final suppression cost of $22.6 million.
Without question, the strategic placement of the aforementioned fuel breaks and collaborative efforts amongst multiple agencies led to the tactful and successful suppression of the fire, saving countless lives, homes, businesses and watershed.
The Cranston fire stopped just short of local homes.
Learn more...
Find other fire prevention treatments and success stories in your area
Use the application below to see recent treatment projects, success stories, and past fires.
To use this application, input an address in the search bar to explore fire history, treatments, and success stories in your area.
