[7] Evaluating the effect of the fire, scientists say it may prove to be healthy for the Mount San Jacinto environment, because in many areas it burned away the understory (leaf litter, brush and downed timber) while leaving the taller trees intact.

That is going to be very favorable to reducing the buildup of ground fuels and thinning out some of the smaller, shade tolerant understory, which will probably in the long run be a benefit for the park.

"[8] A team of researchers from the San Diego Natural History Museum had been in the area studying the flora and fauna of Mount San Jacinto for comparison with a similar study done 100 years earlier by zoologist Joseph Grinnell; they were forced by the fire to evacuate their research camp.

They are finding that the forest is much more dense than it was 100 years ago, partly due to decades of fire suppression.

The increased density has altered the animal population as well as making the area more susceptible to large, damaging fires.

But in July 2019 the DOJ dropped its much larger federal lawsuit against Al-Shawaf "in the interest of justice," citing the state court settlement and asserting "new evidence.

"[10] The DOJ U.S. Attorney's Office refused to identify the “new evidence” or further discuss the matter when pressed by the local newspaper, the Idyllwild Town Crier.