Full containment on Mountain Fire now expected Tuesday

Fire officials today pushed back the estimated fullcontainment date for the Mountain Fire to Tuesday, saying “extreme terrain”is making fire line construction difficult.

The fire has scorched 27,531 acres in the San Bernardino National Forestsince it broke out south of Idyllwild 11 days ago, when electrical equipmentfailed on private property near Mountain Center.

As of today, containment was at 92 percent, although full containmenthad been previously expected today. A statement from the U.S. Forest Servicesaid crews “are continuing to improve fire line and extinguishing hot areasclose to the fire’s edge” and people may see smoke toward the north end of theblaze.

The area is also under a flash flood watch today, with a chance ofthunderstorms.

The cost of fighting the fire, which burned in steep areas covered bychaparral and timber, was $25.2 million. But the number of fire personnelassigned to the blaze continued to be pared back, with 146 remaining.

The fire had been under the unified command of the Forest Service andCal Fire, but on Thursday management was turned over to a San BernardinoNational Forest local team.

The fire is believed to have started near the junction of Highways 243and 74 around 1:45 p.m. on July 15. That day, the blaze claimed 23 structures,including seven homes, but no major injuries were reported, either then orsince.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection disclosedThursday that the blaze was sparked by electrical equipment failure “on thecustomer side of the meter.” It said no more information would be releasedbecause an investigation was continuing.

Evacuations that affected as many as 6,000 people were lifted on Sunday,and the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, which closed July 18 due to fire-generated smoke, reopened Tuesday.

But the nearby San Jacinto Wilderness Area and Mount San Jacinto StateWilderness and all Forest Service Campground and day-use areas along Highway243 remained closed. Also closed were the Devils Slide, South Ridge, DeerSprings, Marion Mountain, 7 Pines, Black Mountain and Fuller Ridge trails, aswell as the Pacific Crest Trail from Highway 74 to Strawberry Junction andconnecting trails.

All hiking and mountain biking trails out of the Hurkey Creek CountyCampground and May Valley areas were also closed, although the Hurkey CreekCampground remained open for camping. Idyllwild and Stone Creek state parkswere open, as are the Lake Hemet Campground.

There were no closures on highways 243 or 74.