Nasty fire in the mountains west of Palm Springs

[stevil]

Smoke is blocking the mountain view, ash is coming down. Can't see the fire but it's windy and hard to go outside because of the smoke. And its growing at an alarming rate. An Animal shelter is threatened.

[link:http://www.mydesert.com/article/20130715/NEWS0803/307150006/Wildfire-Highway-243-Mountain-Center|

[niyad]

1. is it this one:

A group of military helicopters departs the airport as smoke from a 30-acre wildfire near Idyllwild drifts into the valley from the mountains above downtown Palm Springs on Monday. /



MOUNTAIN CENTER — A wildfire burning in Mountain Center has spread to about 235 acres with five percent containment, Cal Fire said.

Wind is continuing to blow the fire towards Apple Canyon, according to the California Highway Patrol website.

The southbound lanes of Highway 243 are closed at Mountain Center and above the Keenwild Fire Station because of a wildfire that has jumped the highway, Cal Fire said.

The fire is traveling east toward Garner Valley and Bonita Vista.

Cal Fire has ordered immediate evacuations of the Living Free Animal Sanctuary, Bonita Vista community and Fleming Ranch.

“We’ve got all of the animals loaded and ready to go,” Tangie Miller with Living Free Animal Sanctuary said. “We can see the flames on the next property and it is really smokey.”

The sanctuary is home to 46 dogs and 86 cats, Miller said.

A propane tank farm in Mountain Center could soon be overtaken by fire, the CHP website said about 4 p.m.

The farm is owned by Farrellgas and has a 30,000-gallon propane tank on the property, said general manager Terry McGuire said.

“My mechanic called me and told me about the fire. He said that there were firefighters in the yard,” McGuire said.

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20130715/NEWS0803/307150006/Wildfire-Highway-243-Mountain-Center?nclick_check=1

[stevil]

2. Yes

Almost can't see the sun, can't see the fire either but really nasty outside.

[antiquie]

3. SCAQMD SMOKE ADVISORY

Valid Tuesday, July 16, 2013

A brush fire, named the Mountain Fire is burning in the Riverside County Mountains near Idyllwild and Mountain Center. As of early this afternoon, it is estimated to be over 8000 acres with 10 percent containment and significant growth potential. Gusty westerly flow is expected again this afternoon in the mountains around the fire. The smoke plume aloft is currently moving to the north and east. In addition, ash from the fire is falling in portions of the Coachella Valley. Smoke and ash may affect areas of the San Jacinto Mountains surrounding the fire and the Coachella Valley. Some mountain and desert areas of San Bernardino County may also experience transported smoke at times. Areas directly impacted by smoke and ash may experience air quality in the Unhealthy range, or higher. Depending on fire and weather conditions, the portions of the South Coast Air Basin where smoke impacts and Unhealthy air quality are most likely to occur include:

· Portions of the Hemet/San Jacinto Valley Area (Forecast Area 28);
· Portions of the Banning Pass Area (Forecast Area 29);
· Portions of the Coachella Valley (Forecast Area 30);
· Northeastern portions of the Anza Area (Forecast Area 27

via email

[uppityperson]

4. Here is the fire data incident link. Got family near it, it sounds bad with bad potential.

http://cdfdata.fire.ca.gov/incidents/incidents_details_info?incident_id=846