At least six thousand residents in the Idyllwild and Fern Valley communities have been evacuated in response to a raging wildfire in the San Jacinto mountains, located in Riverside County southwest of Palm Springs.

The mountain fire started on Monday around 1 pm in the afternoon, and is only 15% contained despite the efforts of over 2,900 firefighters, a fleet of helicopters, air tankers, bulldozers, and other heavy firefighting equipment.

The blaze started near the Riverside County community of Mountain Center, and has spread rapidly to over 22,800 acres as of Thursday morning.

In the span of a few days, the fire has already cost the state 4.5 million dollars, spent on battling the blaze and setting up evacuation centers.

The fire has been spreading in an unusual manner due to wind shifts and atypical humidity levels.

"Usually it cools down at night and we get more humidity," said California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokesperson Tina Rose. "That hasn't happened."

Rose also added in her statement that temperatures soared upward in the triple digits and humidity in the single digits, which is an ideal condition for the mountain fire.

"The slightest little spark is going to make a run and torch trees," said Rose. "It's just so bone dry."

The mountain town of Idyllwild has now become a ghost town, with the majority of residents safely evacuated.

The United States Forest Service said in a statement on Tuesday the firefighters had been able to protect most homes in the community from the vast forest fire, and that the destruction from the mountain fire is limited to three houses, three mobile homes, five commercial buildings, half a dozen vehicles, and a few other small structures like outbuildings and cabins.

The USFS says the fire is burning on chaparral and timber through extremely steep and difficult terrain.

 

Reach Staff Reporter Benjamin Li here.