Firefighters Making Progress on Blaze Near Palm Springs

By Alex Sosnowski, Expert Senior Meteorologist

July 21,2013; 4:30PM,EDT

 

 

 

Firefighters are making progress against the massive Mountain Fire that is burning southwest of Palm Springs, Calif.
The Mountain Fire has charred more than 27,200 acres and is 49 percent contained, as of Sunday morning.
Incident Information System states that firefighters made tremendous progress against the blaze on Saturday, thanks to higher humidity and lower temperatures.
Some evacuation orders were lifted on Saturday, but California Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom still declared a state of emergency in Riverside County, Calif., where the wildfire is located.
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The estimate date for full containment is currently projected to be Friday, July 26.
More than 3,300 firefighters were battling the fire, and AccuWeather.com meteorologists expect thunderstorms to provide both benefits and problems to those firefighters through at least Monday.
The thunderstorms will be spotty in nature and most likely during the afternoon and evening hours.
Rainfall from the thunderstorms would greatly aid the firefighters. However, a heavier downpour could trigger flash flooding and mudslides that would put the firefighters in harm's way.

The wind gusts produced by any thunderstorm could cause the blaze to spread rapidly. That is especially true on the outer and drier fringes of the thunderstorm.
Lightning strikes away from the thunderstorm threaten to spark new blazes.
Smoke has and may continue to lower the visibility in the area and could pose problems for people with respiratory ailments from around Palm Springs to Indio, Calif., and the nearby stretch of Interstate 10.
"The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and Mount San Jacinto State Park are currently closed because of unhealthy air quality," stated Incident Information System.
Temperatures are forecast in the upper 90s for Sunday and Monday.

Rico Smith, spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service's Fire Information Center, told AccuWeather.com on Sunday that the Mountain Fire continues to affect approximately 6,000 people and roughly 2,200 homes and properties. The majority of which are in Idyllwild.
Bailey stated that the majority of the homes in the area are vacation homes.
Six homes, one commercial building, 11 outbuildings and four to six vehicles were destroyed.
Evacuation notices are in effect for the Idyllwild and Fern Valley areas, as well as the San Jacinto State Park Wilderness, Forest Service Wilderness, Forest Service Campgrounds and the community of Pine Cove. Notices were lifted Saturday for Trails End, Morris Ranch, and Camp Joe Sherman.
The Mountain Fire began at 1:43 p.m. PDT, Monday, July 15, 2013, and has been spreading through the rugged terrain and dry brush and timber in the San Jacinto Wilderness area.
AccuWeather.com Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski contributed to the content of this story.