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Fire Sep 23, 2024
Westbound state Route 2 at Flume Canyon Road is one of several Bridge Fire-related road closures. | Photo courtesy of the Angeles National Forest/X
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Firefighters continued making progress Monday to contain the three large brush fires in Southern California that collectively have burned more than 117,000 acres in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino counties.
The Bridge Fire in LA and San Bernardino counties has burned 54,877 acres and was 71% contained, according to Cal Fire on Monday morning. It is the largest active blaze, followed by the 39,232-acre Line Fire in San Bernardino County and the 23,519-acre Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties. The Line Fire was 67% contained, and the Airport Fire reached 81% containment.
Bridge Fire
Crews continued to put out hot spots and extend lines of cleared vegetation around the burned area, Angeles National Forest officials reported Monday.
The fire is located in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness and had threatened 4,409 structures. It has destroyed 81 structures and damaged 17 others, according to Cal Fire.
Firefighters warned that warm and dry conditions were forecast to return this week, which could hinder containment efforts.
“Today, firefighters will continue mop-up efforts across the fire, securing containment lines, extinguishing isolated heat sources, and felling hazardous trees to improve public and crew safety,” according to a Cal Fire statement Monday. “Crews on the west flank will focus on constructing indirect line from Rattlesnake Peak north and Mount Baden Powell south — tying in containment lines at Mount Hawkins. On the south flank, aircraft dropping fire retardant will work with ground crews on the remaining open portion of containment line to get that area buttoned up.”
Bear Canyon remains under an evacuation warning, the LA County Sheriff’s Department announced. Evacuation warnings were lifted for Wrightwood and Baldy Village from the dam north to the ski resort and eastbound to San Antonio Canyon.
The Bridge Fire started shortly after 2 p.m. on Sept. 8 near East Fork and Glendora Mountain roads, according to forest officials. The fire initially remained relatively small, but exploded to a massive size at the end of an extensive heat wave Sept. 10, destroying many homes and buildings as it swiftly spread into San Bernardino County.
Road closures were in effect at:
- Big Pines Highway;
- Big Rock Creek Road;
- Largo Vista Road;
- Mescal Creek Road;
- Panorama Motorway;
- State Route 39 at the base of San Gabriel Canyon;
- Glendora Mountain Road north of Big Dalton Road; and
- Westbound state Route 2 at Flume Canyon Road.
There were 1,910 personnel assigned to battle the blaze, according to Cal Fire on Monday.
Five firefighters and no civilians have been injured, officials said.
A unified command of Cal Fire San Bernardino, the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, San Bernardino County Fire Department and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department were coordinating firefighting efforts.
The cause of the Bridge Fire is under investigation.
Line Fire
The Line Fire near Highland in San Bernardino County has caused four injuries, destroyed one structure and damaged four, according to Cal Fire.
Officials warned that dry weather was in the forecast this week that would also impact the Line Fire containment efforts.
“Temperatures across the Line Fire area will be warm and dry today,” officials said in a statement Monday. “Weak northwest winds this morning will become southwesterly in the afternoon. Temperatures will climb in the early part of the week, then another slight cool-down is expected.”
The Line Fire erupted Sept. 5 near Base Line Road and Alpin Street in Highland, according to Cal Fire.
An evacuation order was in effect from Sept. 20-Nov. 30 for a “forest closure area” around the Line Fire that includes all Angeles National Forest lands, trails and roads closed to the public within that zone, including the San Gorgonio Wilderness.
Highway 330 is closed northbound from Highland Avenue to Live Oak.
More than 2,000 firefighting personnel were battling the blaze Monday.
Airport Fire
Containment of the Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties increased rapidly overnight from 74% to 81%, state fire officials said Monday.
Injuries totaled 21, and the fire has has destroyed 160 structures and damaged 34.
“Drones with infrared technology will be used today to check for heat in drainage areas with heavy vegetative debris that may be holding heat,” Cal Fire officials reported in a Monday statement. “Ground crews or air resources will then be deployed to confirm and address any areas of concern.
“Back hauling of equipment and other items is a priority as unified command prepares to transition the Airport Fire to a Type 3 Incident Management Team that will be based out of the Cleveland National Forest tomorrow,” the statement continued.
“Suppression repair crews continue to tidy up dozer lines and other areas disturbed by fire suppression activities. A Burned Area Response (BAER) Team has also arrived to begin assessing watersheds that may have been impacted by fire activity,” officials said. “The team will study potential changes in water runoff and how it may affect waterways, communities, aquatic wildlife and any other identified areas of concern. As the study continues, mitigation processes will begin.”
Road closures:
- Trabuco Canyon Road and Trabuco Creek Road
- Silverado Canyon and Maple Springs
- North Main Road and Ortega Highway
- Long Canyon Road and Ortega
Highway
“A closure order is in effect for the Trabuco Ranger District of the Cleveland National Forest,” officials said. “Firefighters have observed hikers and mountain bikers in the area. Please do not enter the closure area or recreate on any of the firelines constructed for the incident.”
Southern California Edison has announced plans to replace damaged power poles and lines starting Tuesday along the Ortega Highway, fire officials said. Helicopters will transport and place the poles. Officials said the pole replacement will happen during times of minimal highway use, but traffic delays may “occasionally occur for extended periods.”
Most evacuation orders and warnings were lifted in Orange County, and all evacuation orders and warnings in Riverside County were lifted Saturday. the website go.genasys.com/11hh53 shows areas where homes are impacted by evacuation orders or warnings.
More information on the three wildfires, including updates on roads and evacuations, is at fire.ca.gov/incidents.
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