Mountain Fire 85% contained as residents return home

As previously evacuated residents of Idyllwild andFern Valley began the week back at home, a whittled-down firefighting forcewaited today to see if Mother Nature would finish off the wildfire that hasblackened more than 27,000 acres of the San Bernardino National Forest.

There was an additional threat of thunderstorms and flash floods throughtoday following more than 3 inches of rain at the weekend, fire officials andweather forecasters said.

“Due to excessive rainfall, most divisions are unstaffed, with a fewpatrols to monitor for hot spots and flare-ups,” a U.S. Forest Service updatesaid Sunday night.

The fire was 85 percent contained as of 6 p.m. Monday, having scorched27,332 acres of chaparral and timber and claimed 23 structures, including sevenhomes, though without causing major injuries.

The fire’s behavior was described by the Sunday night update as“smoldering with isolated hot spots” and “fire spread minimal.” But theprojected time for full containment remained noon Friday, as before the rains.

Fire personnel were trimmed by nearly half, with 1,146 remaining as of Monday night, down from 3,347 the day before, fire officials said. The rampingdown included reducing the 228 engines being deployed to 87, the 68 hand crewsto 57, and 11 bulldozers to two. A DC-10, six other fixed-wing aircraft and 13helicopters remained available if needed, they said.

With the evacuations of Idyllwild and Fern Valley lifted Sunday, Highway243 was reopened in the area, officials said. The San Bernardino NationalForest and Humber Park remained closed, as did the Pacific Crest Trail and andtrails connecting to it.

People in Idyllwild tried to return to normal as best they could Monday. Store owners got shipments of food Monday morning and prepared for what they hoped would be business as usual.

“Everyone is just getting back into their homes, getting things situated, get things back. That takes a little time,” Daniel Aronson, owner of Village Market, said.”We are a summer ahead town, yes. Winter does slow things down a bit so we like to keep things going in the summertime.”

Business owners said they know it will take time for locals to get settled back into their homes and return to their normal activities.

Evacuation centers closed at 8 p.m. Sunday, leaving anyone needing helpto contact the American Red Cross, officials said. The small animal shelter wasto return to normal business today.

Only one evacuation remained in force today. Camp Ronald McDonald wasvoluntarily shut down due to health concerns about air quality.

The Mountain Fire, as it’s been named, is believed to have startedaround 1:45 p.m. a week ago today near the junction of Highways 243 and 74. The23 structures swallowed by the blaze were all destroyed Monday.

The cause of the blaze remained under investigation but Jeanne Pincha-Tully, a U.S. Forest Service fire chief, said Thursday the fire has beendetermined to be “human-caused.”

The Forest Service has estimated the cost of the fire at more than $18million.