More evacuees return to fire ravaged communities
Just days ago, the mountainside was engulfed by the flames of the Cranston Fire as hot spots popped up throughout the forest.
As evacuation orders were lifted on Tuesday, many residents returned a completely different landscape from the one they remembered just a week ago. The topography in this area has completely changed, what was once lush green mountainside is now chalky, eerie, moon landscape as far as the eye can see.
Residents told KESQ & CBS Local 2’s Sarah Trott they heard about the danger from neighbors or by word of mouth with only minutes to head out.
“I got online, decided to make the drive back seven hours to save my animals,” said Kevin Browne of Idyllwild.
“A lot of people waited until the last minute, that’s what we did, but that’s all that matters your kids, and your life,” said Robert Muir of Idyllwild.
Today, crews removed charred trees and clearing roadways as residents returned, some took a moment to take it all in, remaining optimistic that hope, and the earth, springs eternal.
“Just like the Mountain Fire it will grow back and be green again soon,” Browne said.
“The earth does this, we have to adapt and overcome. The trees will grow back the beauty is still here, the wilderness is still here,” Muir said.
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