Cranston fire leaves dangerous conditions in its wake
The Cranston fire scorched 13,139 acres and was fully contained on August 9. The blaze broke out on July 25 and left a scar of destruction in its wake; 12 buildings were destroyed, five other damaged, and large swaths of lush forest were reduced to ash.
The flames may no longer pose a threat to the mountain communities affected by the fire, but other risks still loom large. The roots which once served a key role in keeping much of the soil in place up there is now a bit less grounded, creating hazards for those in the area.
“Trying to keep that awareness in the drivers’ minds that we may see some significant erosion and movement for the next couple of years,” said public information officer for CalTrans District 8 Shelli Lombardo.
In January, 21 people were killed by a mudslide just south of Santa Barbara. The Saint Thomas Fire left much of the ground in a similar state to the soil up towards Idyllwild, and local residents are certainly concerned about the risks posed.
“This year if we get a typical Winter here, it could be a real mess. It could be a real mess,” said David Juhasz, a local resident.
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