© 2024 91.9 KVCR

KVCR is a service of the San Bernardino Community College District.

San Bernardino Community College District does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, creed, religion, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression.

701 S Mt Vernon Avenue, San Bernardino CA 92410
909-384-4444
Where you learn something new every day.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Friday Update: Holy Fire At 18,000 Acres, Burning Close To Lake Elsinore; Thousands Evacuated

USFS

UPDATED AT 7AM FRIDAY, AUGUST 10, 2018

The Holy Fire burning in the Cleveland National Forest in the mountains west of Lake Elsinore has burned more than 18,000 acres - up from 10,200 acres Thursday -  and as of this morning (Friday) is still only 5% contained.  Worse yet, weather conditions Thursday pushed the blaze downslope into the I-15 corridor.  For a time yesterday, flames came dangerously close to homes in Lake Elsinore foothill neighborhoods, but were fought back by firefighters.

Mandatory evacuations affecting more than 21,000 residents have been ordered for several neighborhoods on the mountain side of the 15 between Lake Elsinore and Temescal Valley, including a new evacuation order for residents living in Lake Elsinore on the mountain side of Lake Street, and the area spanning Grand Avenue to Ortega Highway.  And Ortega Highway – Highway 74 between Lake Elsinore and San Juan Capistrano – remains closed both directions.

Lake Elsinore Unified School District remains closed until further notice. A number of other Riverside County school districts downwind of the Holy Fire closed Thursday because of poor air quality.  Some Riverside County schools may be closed again Friday because of air quality; if you are downwind of the Holy Fire, check to make sure your kids’ schools are open Friday.  The South Coast Air Quality Management District has declared a smoke advisory for local areas of Riverside and San Bernardino counties.

Governor Jerry brown has declared an official State of Emergency for Orange and Riverside counties, meaning state disaster resources will be more quickly available to authorities commanding the firefight.

Personnel fighting the Holy Fire has been boosted from fewer than 500 after the fires broke out Tuesday, to more than 1,200 Friday.  There are at least two dozen aircraft assisting the firefight.  Two firefighters have been injured.

A suspect– a resident of the Holy Jim Canyon area where 12 structures have been destroyed by the blaze - is in custody charged with intentionally starting the fire allegedly because of a neighborhood feud.  Forrest Clark is being held on a million dollars bail charged with several arson related felonies.

Ken Vincent has retired. We appreciate the way he shared his expertise with many of our young interns and reporters over the nearly eight years he spent as KVCR's lead journalist and Morning Edition host. We wish him a happy and relaxing retirement as he spends more time in his garden and, as he mentioned, more time on the golf course. Thanks Ken!
Related Content