The centers will provide assistance to residents and businesses affected by the two fires that started in early September and continue to burn. Information will be available from local and state agencies, and nonprofit organizations about services and recovery assistance.

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Each center will have information about processing insurance claims, property cleanup, replacing vital records, navigating the repair and rebuilding process, and other resources.

Here are the locations and hours.

LA County Fairplex
When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20
Location: 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Expo Hall 8, Pomona (Enter at Gate 3)

California State University, San Bernardino
When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday, Sept. 23
Location: 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino

Los Angeles County also offers recovery assistance information here. San Bernardino County recovery assistance information can be found here.

The Bridge and Line fires were two of three major wildfires that broke out in early September during a week of extreme heat.

The Bridge Fire started Sept. 8 and grew to more than 54,700 acres. Containment on Wednesday was at 37 percent. The Line Fire was at 39,100 acres with containment at 50 percent.

The region’s three largest fires — the Bridge, Airport and Line fires — all started in early September during a stretch of extremely hot days.

Below, see updates on the fires, including size, containment and evacuation information.

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San Bernardino County Sep 16

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Bridge Fire

The 54,700-acre Bridge Fire was 37-percent contained Wednesday with evacuation warnings lifted and evacuation orders downgraded to warnings in both Wrightwood and Mt. Baldy.

Water-dropping aircraft were putting out hot spots around the southeast corner of the fire zone. Secondary containment lines were being established on the south side of the fire. The northwest flank of the fire still has scattered flames. To the east, firefighters were constructing a line south from Wright Mountain to prevent the fire from reaching Lytle Creek.

The fire has destroyed 73 structures and damaged 16 others.

In Los Angeles County, an evacuation order remained in effect for the East Fork communities, including Camp Williams Resort and the nearby River Community.

In San Bernardino County, evacuation orders remained in effect for the area north of Icehouse Canyon and along Big Pines Canyon road to the community of Big Pines.

An evacuation order that was in effect for the entire Wrightwood community was changed to an evacuation warning Tuesday.

An evacuation warning also remained in place for Shin Road north to Icehouse Canyon.

The fire began Sept. 8 near East Fork and Glendora Mountain roads.

Line Fire

The Line Fire, which was caused by arson, has burned more than 39,100 acres in San Bernardino County. Containment Wednesday was at 50 percent.

Evacuation orders remain in effect due to a closure order for National Forest lands, trails, and roads, including the San Gorgonio Wilderness. Evacuation warnings are in effect for thearea of Big Bear Valley east of the dam and west of McAllister Road, including Fawnskin; all of Green Valley Lake, Running Springs, Arrowbear Lake, Angelus Oaks, Seven Oaks and all campgrounds and cabins in the area.

Highway 330 is closed northbound from Highland Avenue to Live Oak.

Minimal fire growth was reported overnight due largely to the drop in temperatures. Partly cloudy conditions are expected Wednesday, which should help firefighters increase containment and mop up hot spots.

There have been multiple drone incursions over the Line Fire area, according to fire officials.

“This impedes our firefighting operations and can have deadly consequences,” Cal Fire said. ” Please be respectful of those fighting the fire and the community members who are impacted by fire. Never fly drones near wildfire. If you fly, we can’t.”

A Norco man who was accused of starting the fire pleaded not guilty in San Bernardino County.

The Line Fire destroyed one structure and damaged four others. 

Airport Fire

The 23,500-acre Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties was 31-percent contained. Area of increased containment included Lake Elsinore, Decker Canyon Road and Lakeland Village.

Cooler temperatures have helped firefighters, who continued water drops on Santiago Peak. Downed powerlines were posing a hazard, and firefighters are working with utility companies on Ortega Highway to find hot spots and perform repairs.

In Orange County, people in Caspers Regional Park, San Juan Springs, Blue Jay campground were ordered to evacuate, while a larger number of neighborhoods were under evacuation orders and evacuation warnings in Riverside County.

Evacuation warnings were in place in Orange County for portions of Ortega Highway, Robinson Ranch HOA, Trabuco Highlands HOA, Trabuco Highland
Apartment Complex, the East Side of Coto de Caza, Silverado Canyon, Modjeska Canyon, Rose Canyon Road, Trabuco Creek Road, Trabuco Canyon Road, Trabuco Oaks Drive, Joplin Loop, Cook’s Corner, Dove Canyon, El Cariso.

The fire started Sept. 9 in Trabuco Canyon and spread from Orange County into Riverside County.

A week after being told to clear out their things and evacuation, some Wrightwood residents began to make their way home Tuesday afternoon.

Someone also left behind a sign of gratitude that read “Thank you for saving us.”

For others like Karen Knight and her boyfriend Ralph Buchholz who haven’t been told to return home, the painful and anxious wait continued Tuesday.

“It’s been a long journey,” Knight said while going through the valuables she saved when she and her boyfriend were forced to leave their Wrightwood home nine days ago.

“I was filling up the truck and trailer, and I started to cry,” Knight recalled, calling the evacuation the scariest moments in her life.

“This fire was crazy,” Buchloz, Knight’s boyfriend, said. “The sky turned orange, and all the solar panels were popping at 1 p.m.”

As families drove back home to see what’s left of their community, the couple said the biggest blessing is that they survived. 

“There are a lot more disadvantaged people than us. We are blessed that we have each other. That’s all that matters,” Knight said. 

Wildfires Sep 17

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California Wildfires Sep 17

Map: See air quality conditions during Southern California's wildfires

Fire officials said the Bridge Fire, which started in Los Angeles County and spread to San Bernardino County’s mountain communities, destroyed over 65 commercial buildings and homes.

Even after the flames were put out, smoke and hot spots were still visible around the mountain Tuesday, forcing crews to clear trees and debris that could pose a risk.

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The wildfire smoke advisory issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District will remain in effect until 11 p.m. Wednesday as smoke from the Bridge, Line and Airport fires in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and Orange counties affects air quality across the region.

Smoke from the Bridge and Line fires in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties is expected to impact areas in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains, Big Bear and Mt. Baldy.

“Big Bear is expected to reach the Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups AQI category or higher on Wednesday afternoon,” the SCAQMD said in a statement Tuesday. “Most other smoke-impacted areas are expected to be in the Moderate AQI category or higher.”

AIR QUALITY ADVISORY UPDATE (Tuesday, September 17th): https://t.co/Y158OoPtBX#Wildfire Smoke Advisory covering the #BridgeFire, #LineFire, and #AirportFire has been extended pic.twitter.com/SwNKjEj1Ip

— South Coast AQMD (@SouthCoastAQMD) September 17, 2024

The Line Fire has burned more than 39,000 acres with containment at 49 percent. The Bridge Fire was at 54,700 acres with containment at 25 percent.

Smoke impacts from the Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties is expected to be more localized, according to the SCAQMD. The wildfire that started in Orange County before spreading to Riverside County burned 23,519 acres at 31% containment.

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The agency offered the following tips for people in areas impacted by wildfire smoke.

• Limit your exposure by remaining indoors with windows and doors closed or seeking alternate shelter.
• Avoid vigorous physical activity.
• Run your air conditioning and/or an air purifier. If possible, do not use swamp coolers or whole house fans that bring in outside air.
• Avoid burning wood in your fireplace or firepit and minimize sources of indoor air pollution such as candles, incense, pan-frying, and grilling.
• If you must be outside, a properly fit N95 or P100 respirator may provide some protection.

Bridge Fire

The wildfire that has been burning in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties scorched 54,795 acres as of Tuesday at 25% containment. 

Cal Fire said fire crews Tuesday will prioritize securing containment lines and removing hazards to allow displaced residents to get back to their homes.

In Wrightwood, firefighters faced safety hazards such as falling trees and smoldering debris. 

Evacuation orders remained in place for Wrightwood and Mt. Baldy Road north of the San Antonio Dam up to the Mt. Baldy Resort. 

The Bridge Fire destroyed 66 structures and damaged 13 others while it continued to threaten more than 3,600 structures.

Line Fire

As the wildfire burned 39,111 acres with nearly half of it contained as of Tuesday, a Norco man who was accused of starting the fire pleaded not guilty in San Bernardino County.

Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, entered the plea to arson-related crimes from jail in a video arraignment. He was denied bail and appointed an attorney. Halstenberg’s next court appearance is set for Monday.

The Line Fire destroyed one structure and damaged four others. 

More than 36,000 remained under the threat of the blaze as fire crews were expected to strengthen control lines and mop up hot spots Tuesday.

Evacuation orders were still in effect for all National Forest lands, trails and roads as well as undeveloped land east of Highway 330 and Summertrail Place and north of Highland Avenue.

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Airport Fire

The wildfire that started in Orange County before spreading to Riverside County burned 23,519 acres at 31% containment.

Though it may be smaller in the number of acres scorched, nearly 200 structures were destroyed while 34 were damaged. And over 20,000 properties were still under the threat of the blaze.

While the favorable weather continues to have helped fire crews, they were concerned about drier conditions that were forecast for the weekend with highs in the 80s and 90s.

Twelve firefighters were injured while two civilians were hurt in the Airport Fire. 

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Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, entered the plea to arson-related crimes from jail in a video arraignment. He was denied bail and appointed an attorney. Halstenberg’s next court appearance is set for Monday.

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Halstenberg was charged with arson and other crimes related to the fire, including aggravated arson, arson causing great bodily injury, arson of residence, three counts of arson of forest land, and three counts of using an incendiary device. More charges are possible as the fire continues to burn, prosecutors said.

He was arrested after investigators reviewed surveillance camera video and automatic licenses plate readers after the fire ignited around 6:30 p.m. Sept. 5 near Base Line Road and Aplin Street in Highland. About 73,000 buildings were threatened by flames, which led to evacuation orders and warnings.

Some evacuation warnings and orders remain in effect.

Investigators carried out a search at the suspect’s home and found evidence supporting an arrest, according to authorities. They also located the pickup sought in connection with the arson investigation.

If convicted as charged, the suspect could be sentenced to 10 years up to life in prison.

The Line Fire is 49-percent contained at 39,111 acres as of Tuesday.

A Cal Fire battalion chief saw the woman in a dress walking on Ortega Highway Tuesday night in the El Cariso neighborhood of Lake Elsinore. Glowing embers danced at the women’s feet as strong wind gusts fanned nearby flames.

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Cal Fire Battalion Chief Michael Martinez was in a department vehicle when he arrived at the haunting scene.

“This is one of those moments that you hope you never come across,” said Cal Fire Battallion Chief Michael Martinez. “As we came out, I was one of the last ones in line, just watching to see the progression of the fire. I just saw this person walking down the middle of the highway with fire on both sides.”

Martinez rushed the woman down the canyon to paramedics in Lake Elsinore waiting in an ambulance. The woman suffered burns, but was expected to recover, according to fire officials.

“We’re all extremely proud,” said Orange County Fire Authority public information office Steve Concialdi. “He did an outstanding job.”

The Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties started Sept. 9. It has burned more than 23,500 acres with containment Monday at 31 percent. Evacuations remain in effect for some areas.

The blaze swelled to more than 38,000 acres as of Sunday. Cooler temperatures helped strengthen crews’ efforts against the flames since they created favorable conditions in the firefight.

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Wildfires Sep 15

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At least one structure was destroyed in the blaze and three others were damaged. According to Cal Fire, three people were hurt in connection with the fire.

The massive wildfire was the result of arson, investigators revealed. Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, of Norco, was arrested on suspicion of starting the fire. He’s accused of igniting the fire on Sept. 5 near Base Line Road and Aplin Street in Highland.

Halstenberg faces charges that include aggravated arson, arson causing great bodily injury, arson of residence, three counts of arson of forest land, and three counts of using an incendiary device. More charges are possible as the fire continues to burn, prosecutors said.

The fire left thousands of residents displaced during the evacuation orders, which have remained in place. It is unclear when those orders will be lifted and when residents can return to their homes.

Evacuation orders

• Forest Falls and Mountain Home Village (Only residents allowed to return at this time. Be prepared to show proof of residency)
• Green Valley Lake north from Highway 18 along Green Valley Lake Road
• San Bernardino issued Forest Order NO. 05-12-00-24-09, creating a Forest Closure Area around the Line Fire. All National Forest lands, trails, and roads are closed to the public within that zone including San Gorgonio Wilderness
• All undeveloped land east of Highway 330 to Summertrail Place and north of Highland Avenue
• Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake
• Angelus Oaks, Seven Oaks and all campgrounds and cabins in the area

Evacuation warnings

• Cedar Glen, Lake Arrowhead, and Valley of Enchantment
• The area of Big Bear Valley from the dam east to Cactus Road
•  Erwin Lake, Sugar Loaf, Big Bear City, Big Bear Lake, and Fawnskin

Evacuation shelters

• San Bernardino County Fairgrounds — Building 6, 14800 7th St., Victorville, CA 92395
• Jessie Turner Health and Fitness Community Center — 15556 Summit Ave., Fontana, California 92336 | (909) 854-5100
• Hacienda Heights Community Center — 1234 Valencia, Hacienda Heights, California 91745 | (800) 733-2767

Animal evacuation shelters

• Lancaster Animal Care Center (Small Animals) — 5210 West Ave. I, Lancaster, CA 93536
• Palmdale Animal Care Center (Small Animals) — 38550 Sierra Highway, Palmdale, CA 93534
• Devore Animal Shelter (Large and Small Animals) — 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino, CA 92407
• Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (Large Animals) — 2551 W Ave. H, Lancaster, CA 93536

“The weather has been great with cooler temperatures, the marine layer and the higher, relative humidity,” Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said on Saturday.

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Relative humidity Sunday was expected to be about 66% over most of the fire below 3,500 feet, fire officials said. Light showers or drizzle were forecast for Sunday night into Monday morning.

Officials said crews were having “notable success in increasing containment” in areas such as Lake Elsinore, Decker Canyon Road and Lakeland Village.

Crews were expected to keep working to clear lines of vegetation and use favorable weather to help put out flames.

“The work of hand crews, and the arrival of additional handcrews, are critical to success during this advantageous window,” officials said.

The Airport Fire began at about 1 p.m. Monday near Trabuco Canyon Road in the area of the remote-controlled airplane airport, OCFA Capt. Sean Doran said. Officials said the fire was sparked by a county public works crew using heavy equipment. The cause was deemed accidental.

Fire officials estimate the fire will be fully contained by lines of cleared vegetation by September 24.

Evacuation orders

• Zones: ELC01, ORT01-B; Areas include — Caspers Regional Park, San Juan Springs, Blue Jay campground.
• Zones: RVC-1521, RVC-1622, RVC-1724-B, RVC-1725, RVC-1798, RVC-1800, RVC-1802, RVC-1865, RVC-1866, RVC-1933, RVC-1934, RVC-1935, RVC-1999

Evacuation warnings

• Ortega Highway
• Robinson Ranch HOA
• Trabuco Highlands HOA
• Trabuco Highland Apartment Complex
• the East Side of Coto de Caza
• Silverado Canyon
• Modjeska Canyon
• Rose Canyon Road
• Trabuco Creek Road
• Trabuco Canyon Road
• Trabuco Oaks Drive
• Joplin Loop
• Cook’s Corner
• Dove Canyon
• El Cariso

Residents can click here to determine if their homes are impacted by evacuation orders or warnings.

Evacuation centers

• Foothill Ranch Library, 27002 Cabriole Way
• Large animals — Orange County Fairgrounds, Los Alamitos Race Course
• Large animals — Nohl Ranch Saddle Club at 6352 E. Nohl Ranch Road in Anaheim

Road closures

• Trabuco Canyon Road and Trabuco Creek Road;
• El Toro Road and Live Oak Canyon Road;
• Ortega Highway at Nichols Institute

No additional injuries were reported from the fire. Earlier in the week, officials said 10 firefighters had suffered minor injuries fighting the blaze, many of them heat-related, while two civilians were also injured, one with an unknown medical condition and the other suffering burn injuries.

Cal Fire said 107 residential, commercial and other structures were destroyed, and another 12 were damaged.

At a community meeting Saturday evening, officials said they currently do not know when evacuated residents of Wrightwood will be able to return to their homes. Evacuation orders have been put in place for the mountain community as crews continue their battle against the relentless blaze.

Bridge Fire

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At more than 54,000 acres, the Bridge Fire holds the reigns as Southern California’s largest active wildfire, which is burning through Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties. It so far has been 9% contained.

“We need to know that it is safe for you to go back into your homes,” one official at the community meeting said.

“What happens is when that fire is burning up above us, while all that stuff is burning, it’s going to start rolling downhill. So, there’s a lot of stuff that’s been coming down, even as the crews are in there working, trees are coming down, they’re having boulders coming down, they’re also having a lot of burning debris that are coming down and lighting off vegetation all around the homes.”

In the meantime, residents have been expressing their appreciation for first responders in the form of posters displayed around the community.

“A great, big thank you for all that hard work and dedication/ We’re very grateful for all the firefighters,” said Chris Kasten, a Wrightwood resident.

With the blaze impacting two counties, two assessment teams are slated to visit Wrightwood and the surrounding area to see the damage and brainstorm how to help those who’ve been displaced. As of Saturday, at least 19 structures were destroyed in the fire, according to Cal Fire.

Evacuation orders

• the entire community of Wrightwood
• Highway 138 south to Lone Pine Canyon and Highway 2 east to Lone Pine Canyon Road;
• Lone Pine Canyon from the community of Wrightwood to Highway 138/Lone Pine Canyon Road south to the forest;
• East Fork communities of Camp Williams Resort (cafe, mobile home park, campground) and River Community (near the resort); and
• Mt. Baldy Road, North Mountain Avenue and Shinn Roads from San Antonio Heights to Wrightwood and east to Cucamonga Peak.

A mandatory evacuation order that had been in place in the area of Highway 18 south to Highway 138 and Beekley Road west to the Los Angeles County line was downgraded to a warning.

Evacuation warnings

• Phelan from Highway 138 east to Baldy Mesa Road and Phelan Road south to Sayle Road;
• Pinon Hills from Wrightwood north to Highway 138 and Lebec Road west to Los Angeles County.

Evacuation warnings were lifted Friday in the communities of Baldwin Lake and Lake Williams from Highway 38 north to Highway 18 and Baldwin Lake East, and in the area of Phelan Road south to Forest Route 3N24 and Baldy Mesa Road west to Tumbleweed Road.

Evacuation centers

• Pomona Fairplex: 601 W McKinley Ave., Pomona (Enter Gate 3, corner of McKinley and White);
• Hacienda Heights Community Center, 1234 Valencia Ave.;
• Jessie Turner Center, 15556 Summit Ave., in Fontana.

Animal evacuation centers

• Palmdale Animal Care Center (small animals): 38550 Sierra Highway, Palmdale;
• Lancaster Animal Care Center (small animals): 5210 W. Ave. I, Lancaster;
• Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (large animals): 2551 W. Ave. H, Lancaster (call 562-706-8581 prior to arrival);
• Devore Animal Shelter (pets/livestock): 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino (call 909-386-9820, or after hours 800-472-5609).

Road closures

• SR-138 from Lone Pine Canyon Road to Beekley Road;
• SR-2 closed from Big Pines to SR-138;
• Big Pines Highway;
• Big Rock Creek Road;
• San Gabriel Canyon and East Fork of the San Gabriel River;
• Highway 39;
• East Fork Road;
• Glendora Ridge Road;
• Glendora Mountain Road; and
• Mount Baldy Road at Shinn Road intersection

Cal Fire officials estimated that the fire had destroyed 19 residential, commercial and other structures and damaged another six. However, more than 11,000 structures were still being threatened as of Sunday.

No significant injuries were reported.

Containment on the Line Fire grows as firefighters use cooler temperatures to strengthen control lines in San Bernardino County.

The Line Fire has burned 38,417 acres and containment is at 29% as of Saturday night.

Clear skies and seasonable temperatures in the area have provided favorable conditions in the fight against the blaze, according to Cal Fire.

“Tonight, cool temperatures and light and variable winds are expected. Fire growth will continue to be moderated by cooler weather.  Firefighters are strengthening control lines and mopping up hot spots,” wrote Cal Fire in their latest update.

For the latest information on evacuation orders, warnings, road closures and shelters visit the Cal Fire website.

“The Wrightwood water system, working with the State Water Resources Control Board, has determined through comprehensive testing that Wrightwood’s water is safe to drink. Customers no longer need to consume bottled water.  However, customers should flush their taps only after the evacuation order is lifted,” wrote the Golden State Water Company.

The company issued the advisory due to concerns that the water system in Wrightwood was impacted by the ongoing Bridge Fire. It was believed that on Saturday morning the water system experienced a loss of pressure in some areas of Wrightwood, making way for harmful contaminants.

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With the loss of pressure, dangerous contaminants like benzene and other volatile organic chemicals could make their way into the water.

Reports circulating about customers being unable to use water for bathing were also disproven by the Golden State Water Company.

“It has come to our attention that there are reports circulating about customers being unable to use water for bathing. We want to clarify that these reports are inaccurate,” wrote the Golden State Water Company.

For more information on water quality or how to flush the water system click here.

The Bridge Fire, which is currently Southern California’s largest active wildfire, has consumed more than 52,000 acres in Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties as of Saturday. At least 19 structures in its path were destroyed and firefighters remain battling it.

Firefighters braced for another day battling the massive Airport Fire on Saturday in Orange and Riverside counties, where 23,519 acres have been charred with containment remaining at 19-percent.

“The weather has been great with cooler temperatures, the marine layer and the higher, relative humidity,” Orange County Fire Authority Capt. Steve Concialdi said.

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Officials said crews were having “notable success in increasing containment” in areas such as Lake Elsinore, Decker Canyon Road and Lakeland Village.

In Orange County, people in Caspers Regional Park, San Juan Springs, Blue Jay campground were ordered to evacuate, while a larger number of neighborhoods were under evacuation orders and evacuation warnings in Riverside County.

Evacuation orders

• Zones: ELC01, ORT01-B; Areas include — Caspers Regional Park, San Juan Springs, Blue Jay campground.
• Zones: RVC-1521, RVC-1622, RVC-1724-B, RVC-1725, RVC-1798, RVC-1800, RVC-1802, RVC-1865, RVC-1866, RVC-1933, RVC-1934, RVC-1935, RVC-1999

Evacuation warnings

• Ortega Highway
• Robinson Ranch HOA
• Trabuco Highlands HOA
• Trabuco Highland Apartment Complex
• the East Side of Coto de Caza
• Silverado Canyon
• Modjeska Canyon
• Rose Canyon Road
• Trabuco Creek Road
• Trabuco Canyon Road
• Trabuco Oaks Drive
• Joplin Loop
• Cook’s Corner
• Dove Canyon
• El Cariso

Residents can click here to determine if their homes are impacted by evacuation orders or warnings.

Evacuation centers

• Foothill Ranch Library, 27002 Cabriole Way
• Large animals — Orange County Fairgrounds, Los Alamitos Race Course
• Large animals — Nohl Ranch Saddle Club at 6352 E. Nohl Ranch Road in Anaheim

Road closures

• Trabuco Canyon Road and Trabuco Creek Road;
• El Toro Road and Live Oak Canyon Road;
• Ortega Highway at Nichols Institute

No additional injuries were reported from the fire. Earlier in the week, officials said 10 firefighters had suffered minor injuries fighting the blaze, many of them heat-related, while two civilians were also injured, one with an unknown medical condition and the other suffering burn injuries.

Cal Fire said 107 residential, commercial and other structures were destroyed, and another 12 were damaged.

Firefighters on Saturday continued to battle the Bridge Fire that spread from San Gabriel Canyon above Glendora into San Bernardino County and burned 53,738 acres. It raged as the largest active fire in Southern California.

As of Saturday evening, the fire was 5% contained, primarily on the southwestern flank, according to CalFire.

“Today, the Bridge Fire had minimal movement,” Cal Fire said in the latest update Saturday. “Firefighters continued to mop-up hot spots, establish or strengthen containment lines along the entire perimeter of the fire where accessible to do so. Resources were focused on the northern area of the fire where air operations dropped water as needed along the fire line near the communities of Big Pines and Wrightwood.

Bridge Fire

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“Although the fire is slowly backing downhill on the east side, firefighters are not letting their guard down in Icehouse Canyon where the rugged terrain still presents some challenges. Heat and active flames are also still present in the Mt.Baldy Village area, and crews continue to prioritize structure protection.

“A marine weather inversion aided crews along the southern boundary in establishing direct line, extending from the southwest toward the east with mop-up. Favorable winds are also keeping the west side of the fire within its current footprint where the steepest and most rugged terrain lies within the wilderness.”

Fire officials said humidity is still low in higher elevations, but in lower elevations, the marine layer and higher humidity were helping crews make “great progress in strengthening both primary and secondary containment lines in the southeast, south and southwest flanks of the fire, while also gaining depth in their mop-up operations.”

The Incident Management Team scheduled a public meeting at 6 p.m. Saturday at Serrano High School Performing Arts Center, 9292 Sheep Creek Road in Phelan that will be live streamed on the Angeles National Forest Facebook page.

The blaze began at 3 p.m. last Sunday near East Fork and Glendora Mountain roads, according to forest officials. The fire initially remained relatively small, but it exploded in size at the tail end of an extended heat wave on Tuesday, destroying dozens of structures as it marched into San Bernardino County.

It is the largest active fire in the state.

Evacuation orders

• the entire community of Wrightwood
• Highway 138 south to Lone Pine Canyon and Highway 2 east to Lone Pine Canyon Road;
• Lone Pine Canyon from the community of Wrightwood to Highway 138/Lone Pine Canyon Road south to the forest;
• East Fork communities of Camp Williams Resort (cafe, mobile home park, campground) and River Community (near the resort); and
• Mt. Baldy Road, North Mountain Avenue and Shinn Roads from San Antonio Heights to Wrightwood and east to Cucamonga Peak.

A mandatory evacuation order that had been in place in the area of Highway 18 south to Highway 138 and Beekley Road west to the Los Angeles County line was downgraded to a warning.

Evacuation warnings

• Phelan from Highway 138 east to Baldy Mesa Road and Phelan Road south to Sayle Road;
• San Antonio Heights and Upland from the foothills south to 23rd Street;
• Pinon Hills from Wrightwood north to Highway 138 and Lebec Road west to Los Angeles County.

Evacuation warnings were lifted Friday in the communities of Baldwin Lake and Lake Williams from Highway 38 north to Highway 18 and Baldwin Lake East, and in the area of Phelan Road south to Forest Route 3N24 and Baldy Mesa Road west to Tumbleweed Road.

Evacuation centers

• Pomona Fairplex: 601 W McKinley Ave., Pomona (Enter Gate 3, corner of McKinley and White);
• Hacienda Heights Community Center, 1234 Valencia Ave.;
• Jessie Turner Center, 15556 Summit Ave., in Fontana.

Animal evacuation centers

• Palmdale Animal Care Center (small animals): 38550 Sierra Highway, Palmdale;
• Lancaster Animal Care Center (small animals): 5210 W. Ave. I, Lancaster;
• Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (large animals): 2551 W. Ave. H, Lancaster (call 562-706-8581 prior to arrival);
• Devore Animal Shelter (pets/livestock): 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino (call 909-386-9820, or after hours 800-472-5609).

Road closures

• SR-138 from Lone Pine Canyon Road to Beekley Road;
• SR-2 closed from Big Pines to SR-138;
• Big Pines Highway;
• Big Rock Creek Road;
• San Gabriel Canyon and East Fork of the San Gabriel River;
• Highway 39;
• East Fork Road;
• Glendora Ridge Road;
• Glendora Mountain Road; and
• Mount Baldy Road at Shinn Road intersection

Cal Fire officials estimated that the fire had destroyed 19 residential, commercial and other structures and damaged another six. However, more than 11,000 structures were still being threatened as of Saturday.

No significant injuries were reported.

This live blog is no longer being updated. Click here for wildfire updates.

Firefighters are gaining ground on three major wildfires that have forced evacuations, destroyed homes and burned tens of thousands of acres in early September.

See live updates on the Airport, Line, Bridge and other wildfires.

Flames that swept through Orange County’s Holy Jim Canyon left behind the rubble of recreational cabins in a patch of Cleveland National Forest considered a treasured mountain retreat.

The Airport Fire started Monday about two miles from the nearly three dozen cabins in eastern Orange County. Many were destroyed that afternoon by flames that climbed a canyon wall.

California Wildfires Sep 12

Time-lapse video shows dramatic spread of Airport Fire in Orange, Riverside counties

California Wildfires Sep 10

Map: See where fires are burning in Southern California

Arturo Payan said his cabin is likely among them. He just signed the paperwork for Cabin No. 29 about one month ago.

“I put all my heart, effort, money (into it),” Payan said. “Now it’s gone, but I’m alive.”

Some of the cabins were built in the early 1900s.

Holly Permeh has owned one for about five years. She used a quad bike to ride up to the property Wednesday to see what was left.

“Horrific. I thought I would be able to get some souveniers, just something,” Permeh said. “It all melted. Everything is gone.

“It’s kind of a place just to get away from the hustle and bustle of OC. Just a place for my son and I to go, spend some time. Just seeing the devastation first hand just made it real.”

The Airport Fire has burned more than 23,000 acres in Orange and Riverside counties. It is one of three major wildfires burning in Southern California.

Cooler temperatures were in the forecast, which will aid firefighters as they try to increase containment of the fire that has destroyed an unknown number of homes, and injured 10 firefighters and two other people.

So far in 2024, California’s state firefighting agency has reported more than 6,000 wildfires that burned more than 977,000 acres. The acreage burned is a dramatic increase from 2023, when Cal Fire reported 5,053 wildfires that burned 253,755 acres. The five-year average is 5,912 wildfires and 868,803 acres burned.

Tensions had been on the rise since Thursday when the Line Fire, which investigators determined to be a case of arson, broke out near Highland to the south. Flames were visible from the Palenchars’ house the next day and evacuations were ordered on Saturday.

California Wildfires Sep 12

Norco arson suspect charged in San Bernardino County Line Fire

California Wildfires Sep 10

Map: See where fires are burning in Southern California

“I had this really strong feeling as I was leaving,” said Palenchar. “I’m like, ‘I just knew it was going to get lost.'”

The home was destroyed with only the chimney left standing and children’s burned bicycles in the rubble. The beloved house was home to the Palenchars and their three young children, ages 5, 7 and 12. They tried to pack what they could before it was time to evacuate.

“It was so chaotic, and I was just like telling each kid to grab a special bag so they could put their things in,” Palenchar said. “I was grabbing things in their closet, like their baby books and things, and I just started crying and touching the walls as I was going by.

“I think every day’s been a little more tearful and a little bit harder to process.”

Palenchar grew up in the house. She left to start a family, then returned to the home to raise most of her nine children.

Family members have not been allowed to return to the property due to evacuation orders, but they have seen the destruction in news reports.

“It’s just so tough to see,” said son Finn Haskins. “I mean, you see the chimney and then the top of it shows the fireplace of our living room that we spent multiple Christmases and Thanksgivings.

“My whole family gathered around the couch watching it. And it’s just, it’s tough times.”

Palenchar said the family has received support from neighbors in the wake of the tragedy.

“We’ve been overwhelmed by the amount of generosity and people just offering support and kindness,” she said.

A 34-year-old Norco man has been charged in connection with the wildfire that burned more than 37,000 acres and forced evacuations in San Bernardino County. Containment was at 18 percent Thursday.

The Line Fire is one of three major fires burning in Southern California.

San Bernardino County prosecutors charged Justin Wayne Halstenberg with arson and other crimes related to the fire, including aggravated arson, arson causing great bodily injury, arson of residence, three counts of arson of forest land, and three counts of using an incendiary device. More charges are possible as the fire continues to burn, prosecutors said.

California Wildfires Sep 12

Time-lapse video shows dramatic spread of Airport Fire in Orange, Riverside counties

California Wildfires Sep 10

Map: See where fires are burning in Southern California

Halstenberg was arrested on suspicion of arson after investigators reviewed surveillance camera video and automatic licenses plate readers after the fire ignited around 6:30 p.m. Sept. 5 near Base Line Road and Aplin Street in Highland. About 73,000 buildings were threatened by flames, which led to evacuation orders and warnings.

The 37,200-acre fire was 18-percent contained Thursday morning.

Investigators carried out a search at the suspect’s home and found evidence supporting an arrest, according to authorities. They also located the pickup sought in connection with the arson investigation.

“It’s my belief that as time goes on – and we allow them to do the critical work that they’re doing – that we will actually find out this suspect may have been responsible for other fires,” San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said during a news conference Wednesday.

If convicted as charged, the suspect could be sentenced to 10 years up to life in prison.

The Line Fire is one of three major wildfires burning in Southern California.

So far in 2024, California’s state firefighting agency has reported more than 6,000 wildfires that burned more than 977,000 acres. The acreage burned is a dramatic increase from 2023, when Cal Fire reported 5,053 wildfires that burned 253,755 acres. The five-year average is 5,912 wildfires and 868,803 acres burned.

The centers will provide assistance to residents and businesses affected by the two fires that started in early September and continue to burn. Information will be available from local and state agencies, and nonprofit organizations about services and recovery assistance.

Wildfires 11 hours ago

Maps: See updates on the 3 largest Southern California wildfires

California Wildfires Sep 17

Map: See air quality conditions during Southern California's wildfires

Each center will have information about processing insurance claims, property cleanup, replacing vital records, navigating the repair and rebuilding process, and other resources.

Here are the locations and hours.

LA County Fairplex
When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 20
Location: 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Expo Hall 8, Pomona (Enter at Gate 3)

California State University, San Bernardino
When: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 21; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Monday, Sept. 23
Location: 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino

Los Angeles County also offers recovery assistance information here. San Bernardino County recovery assistance information can be found here.

The Bridge and Line fires were two of three major wildfires that broke out in early September during a week of extreme heat.

The Bridge Fire started Sept. 8 and grew to more than 54,700 acres. Containment on Wednesday was at 37 percent. The Line Fire was at 39,100 acres with containment at 50 percent.

Bonded bald eagles Jackie and Shadow, whose journey to parenthood and egg-laying triumphs and tragedies captured the hearts of the Internet, reside in the Big Bear Valley. The feathered couple became popular thanks to a live cam of their nest hosted by nonprofit Friends of Big Bear Valley.

Line Fire

Wildfires Sep 11

Line Fire arson suspect held without bail in San Bernardino County as firefighters make progress

California Wildfires Sep 10

Map: See where fires are burning in Southern California

With many eyes on the pair, the public is left wondering – will they be OK?

On its website, the nonprofit organization said on Tuesday that as of late, the birds have not spent a lot of time in their usual nest. It also pointed out that when the valley experiences something unusual such as the smoke, the pair tend to leave.

“Jackie and Shadow will be OK,” said Sandy Steers of the Friends of Big Bear Valley organization. “Even if anything happens, they fly. They know how to get away, they know what they’re doing and they won’t be so, I guess, married to this nest that they’d put themselves in danger.”

As of Wednesday, the Line Fire grew to more than 36,000 acres. About 73,000 structures were threatened by the blaze, which impacted about 100,000 people.

“In the meantime, we will keep an eye out for Jackie and Shadow visits,” Friends of Big Bear Valley said on its website. “We will keep you updated as the situation progresses.”

Cynthia Fleury, who lives on Swallow Hill Road parallel to the Angeles Crest Highway, said her house was covered with red ashes Tuesday night as flames were getting dangerously close to home.

But as her family had to leave so quickly, they left behind their pony, Willow.

“We got back up (Wednesday) morning. We wanted to check on the pony to see if she was safe, to see if she was OK,” Fleury said. “I almost cried when I saw our house was OK, and our neighbors’ house was OK.”

California Wildfires Sep 10

Map: See where fires are burning in Southern California

Wildfires Sep 11

Bridge Fire in Angeles National Forest expands to San Bernardino County, reaching Mt. High resort

Fleury’s home was still under a mandatory evacuation order, but she decided not to leave again while monitoring hot spots with her hose and preventing any flare-ups.

“We’re blessed,” Willow’s owner said. “But this was all foliage. We couldn’t see the highway, (because of) how lush it was, and it’s gone. It’s desolate now.”

“Honestly the hardest part is we are blind. I’ve been calling around all afternoon, trying to find out if my house is still there,” Danny Jacob, who recently evacuated from his home, said.  

The state’s Department of Insurance said one thing that should not be a worry for homeowners is the possible loss of their insurance.  

State law requires a mandatory one-year moratorium on insurance companies canceling or non-renewing residential insurance policies in certain neighborhoods after the governor has issued a state of emergency.    

As soon as Cal Fire establishes a perimeter at a fire site, the Department of Insurance will “put a lock in place,” according to insurance broker Karl Susman    

“The insurance carriers will not be able to non-renew properties that are in that area for at least a year,” Susman said.  

Once a state of emergency is declared, the one-year protection applies to residential policyholders who suffer less than a total loss or even no loss at all in the affected area.   

Homeowners with total loss also have additional protections under the law, according to the Department of Insurance. 

Home insurance policies could cover other costs, like overnight stays when displaced from homes – but it all depends on one’s insurance policy.

“It depends on if the evacuation order is mandatory or not. There are a lot of factors that are in there,” Susman explained. “It’s always a good idea, if you’re in the position of having to evacuate, to contact your insurance carrier and find out what coverage you might be eligible to get for that.”

Another important thing for homeowners need to remember, according to the insurance broker, is that carriers are not able to make changes to the policy when there’s an active fire.

“You can’t call them and say, ‘You know what? I think I should have more coverage today.’ That’s not going to happen,” Susman said. “The best thing that you can do is (to) get a copy of your policy. You can usually call your agent or broker or you can call the insurance carrier directly.”

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The insurance broker also urged people to ask their broker straight-forward questions such as what the policy may cover under a mandatory evacuation as every policy has different language when it comes to evacuation rules.    

New regulations, as the I-Team reported earlier in the summer, would mandate insurance companies to offer policies in certain high risk and underserved communities.     

The rules are expected to go into effect later this year and would apply to areas of distress, perhaps where wildfires are now, according to Susman, who added the premium, which will reflect that risk potential, could increase in the future but with the possibility of having more options. 

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The Airport Fire, which was reported in Trabuco Canyon Monday afternoon, expanded to burn more than 23,000 acres in Orange and Riverside Counties, but dropping temperatures may slow down the blaze, officials said Wednesday.

The Airport Fire, which was 5% contained as of Wednesday night, threatened more than 10,000 structures in both counties, injuring seven people including five firefighters. 

Lake Elsinore Unified School District canceled all classes slated for Thursday, Sept. 12.

“The fire did make a run across Ortega Highway last night. It did damage and destroy some structures off the Ortega Highway. We’ve got damage assessment teams going in today to get a look at what that damage is exactly,” Capt. Paul Holaday with the Orange County Fire Authorities said.

Gov. Newsom, who visited Southern California Wednesday, issued a state of emergency in Orange and Riverside counties as the wildfire fire grew.

Newsom had proclaimed a state of emergency for San Bernardino County for the Line Fire on Monday.

As firefighters attacked the blaze from the air and ground, they may get some relief on Wednesday with a chance in the weather. 

“The fire has slowed down for us, so we’re able to make more progress on the flanks of the fire,” Holaday said, adding temperatures were down about 15 degrees on Wednesday with higher humidity levels.

But as the wind phenomenon called the Elsinore effect could erratically force wind shifts, authorities continued to urge neighbors to follow the evacuation orders and warnings.

The fire crews and responding agencies were granted more access to fire-suppressing resources as Gov. Gavin Newsom secured a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Cal Fire officials said.

Evacuation orders

Orange County

• Zones: ELC01, RSM03, ORT01

Riverside County

• Zones: LSN-1524, LSN-1525, LSN-1526, LSN-1623, LSN-1624, LSN-1625, LSN-1626, LSN-1627, LSN-1799, LSN-1803, RVC-1622, RVC-1724, RVC-1726, RVC-1728, RVC-1729, RVC-1800, RVC-1801, RVC-1804, RVC-1806, RVC-1807, RVC-1808, RVC-1809, RVC-1810, RVC-1867, RVC-1868, RVC-1870, RVC-1936, RVC-1521, RVC-1725, RVC-1798, RVC-1865, RVC-1866, RVC-1933, RVC-1934, RVC-1935, RVC-1999, RVC-2074, RVC-2142, RVC-2143, RVC-1802, RVC-2000, RVC-2075, RVC-2144, RVC-2197, RVC-2243

North of San Diego/Riverside County Line, South of Orange County Line, East of Orange County Line, West of S Main Divide/Grand Ave.

Road closures

• Plano Trabuco / Joshua Drive                                      
• Santa Margarita Parkway / Antonio Parkway
• Plano Trabuco / Robinson Ranch                                   
• Avenida Empressa / Santa Margarita Parkway
• Antonio Parkway / Alas de Paz                                      
• Trabuco Canyon / Trabuco Creek
• Santiago Canyon Road                                                     
• Live Oak Canyon Road
• Ortega Highway (east of Quarry to Grand Avenue in Lake Elsinore)

Evacuation sites

Orange County

• RSM Bell Tower Community Center: 22232 El Paseo;  Rancho Santa Margarita, CA  (Open 24 Hours)
• Bell Tower Regional Community Center, 22232 El Paseo in Rancho Santa Margarita

Riverside County

• Temescal Canyon High School: 28755 El Toro Road, Lake Elsinore, CA
• Santiago High School: 1395 E Foothill Pkwy, Corona, CA
• An additional Evacuation Shelter is open at Temescal Canyon High School in the big gym located at 28755 El Toro Rd, Lake Elsinore, CA. The site is equipped with cots, air conditioning, Wi-Fi, water, snacks, and welcoming staff.

California Wildfires Sep 10

Map: See where fires are burning in Southern California

Orange County Sep 10

Airport Fire doubles in size within hours in Trabuco Canyon

Animal shelters

Orange County

• Large animal shelters
  • Orange County Fairgrounds: 88 Fair Drive;  Costa Mesa, CA               
  • Los Alamitos Race Course: 4961 Katella Avenue, Cypress, CA             
  • Nohl Ranch Saddle Club: 6352 E. Nohl Ranch Rd. Anaheim, CA
  • Murrieta Equestrian Center: 42670 Juniper St. Murrieta, CA
• Animal services
  • Ralph’s Supermarket Parking Lot: 31841 Santa Margarita Parkway;  RSM, CA                           
  • OC Animal Care: 1630 Victory Road;  Tustin, CA  

Riverside County

• Jurupa Valley Animal Shelter: 6851 Van Buren Blvd, Jurupa Valley, CA
• An additional Large Animal Shelter is available at the Murrieta Equestrian Center located at 42670 Juniper St, Murrieta, CA. Basic food and water are available at animal shelters. If your pets/animals have special diets or special needs, please bring special food or medications with your animals.
• Riverside County residents needing assistance with large animal evacuations can call (951) 358-7387.
• Temescal Valley High School: 28755 El Toro Road; Lake Elsinore, CA
• Santiago High School: 1395 E. Foothill Parkway; Corona, CA

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A Norco man was held without bail in San Bernardino County on suspicion of sparking the Line Fire, which scorched more than 36,000 acres.

The fire, which was reported at around 6:30 p.m. last Thursday near Base Line Road and Aplin Street in Highland, was 14% contained as of Wednesday.

About 73,000 structures were threatened by the fire, which affected 100,000 people in the area, according to officials. 

No loss of life was reported.

Arson suspect arrested

As soon as the vegetation fire was first reported, Cal Fire officials with the San Bernardino unit began an investigation, reviewing surveillance video and automatic license plate readers.

When investigators conducted a search warrant at the home of Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, in the 1000 block of Detroit Street in Norco, they said they located evidence supporting his arrest in the house as well as the car.

Although Halstenberg’s LinkedIn profile says he is a delivery driver for FedEx, the company said the man wasn’t an employee last Thursday when the fire was first reported.

“This individual is no longer providing service on behalf of FedEx, nor was he at the time of this fire,” FedEx said in a statement.

“It’s my belief that as time goes on – and we allow them to do the critical work that they’re doing –  that we will actually find out this suspect may have been responsible for other fires,” San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said during a news conference Wednesday. 

Looting, burglaries

While firefighters made progress in expanding the containment of the fire as the temperatures dropped slightly Wednesday, authorities also sent a warning message to “opportunists” trying to loot vacated businesses or burglarized homes. 

At least two people were arrested for burglaries, according to the sheriff. 

“I’m drawing a line in the sand. If you’re going to be an opportunist in San Bernardino County, We will catch you. You are going to jail,” Dicus said. “We have a DA that will prosecute you.”

Evacuation orders

• The area east of Orchard Road to Cloverhill Drive from Highland Ave north to the foothills
• All undeveloped land east of Hwy 330 to Summertrail Place and north of Highland Avenue
• Communities of Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake 
• The community of Forrest Falls 
• The community of Mountain Home Village 
• The communities of Angelus Oaks, Seven Oaks and all campgrounds and cabins in the area 
• The areas north and east of Highland Avenue and Palm Avenue
• Green Valley Lake north from Highway 18 along Green Valley Lake Road
• Big Bear from the dam east to Wildrose Lane and the south shoreline south to Bluff Lake Basin

Evacuation warnings

• From Calle Del Rio east to Highway 38 and from Greenspot Road north to the foothills 
• From 210 freeway east to the foothills and from Greenspot road north to the foothills
• The community of Green Valley Lake north from Highway 18 along Green Valley Lake Road 
• The communities of Cedar Glen, Lake Arrowhead, Twin Peaks, Crestline, and Valley of Enchantment 
• The area from Garnet Street east to Bryant Street and Carter Street north to Mill Creek 
• The area of Big Bear Valley from the dam to Cactus Road 
• Garnett Street east to Highway 38 and Mill Creek north to the foothills

Road closures

• Highway 38 is shut down between Bryant Street and Lake Williams.
• Highway 18 is currently closed from Kuffel Canyon to the Big Bear Dam.
• Highway 330 remains closed northbound from Highland Avenue to Highway 18.

Wildfires Sep 11

Bridge Fire in Angeles National Forest expands to San Bernardino County, reaching Mt. High resort

California Wildfires Sep 10

Map: See where fires are burning in Southern California

Evacuation centers

• San Bernardino County Fairgrounds
  Building 6
  14800 7th Street
  Victorville, CA 92395
  
• Jessie Turner Health and Fitness Community Center
  15556 Summit Ave
  Fontana, California 92336
• Temescal Valley High School
  28755 El Toro Road
  Lake Elsinore, CA

Animal shelters

Devore Animal Shelter (Large and Small Animals)
19777 Shelter Way,
San Bernardino, CA 92407
Business Hours: (909) 386-9820
After Hours: (800)472-5609

Three major wildfires continued to tear across multiple Southern California counties Wednesday, collectively scorching more than 100,000 acres with containment still out of reach for firefighters.

This live blog has ended. Follow NBCLA here for updates on the wildfires.

Dozens of homes were destroyed in the Bridge Fire as the fast-growing fire burned through Los Angeles and San Bernardino Counties, leaving behind a trail of destruction Wednesday.

The cross-county wildfire burned 50,258 acres as of Wednesday evening with 0% containment.

Gov. Newsom, who visited Southern California Wednesday, issued a state of emergency in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

Orange and Riverside counties were also under a state of emergency as the Airport Fires grew.

Newsom had proclaimed a state of emergency for San Bernardino County for the Line Fire on Monday.

About 20 homes by Mt. Baldy as well as 13 homes in Wrightwood were destroyed while six cabins in the wilderness were lost in the fire. 

“It’s heartbreaking. We were just up here, walking on these trails. We had a picnic three days ago. It’s completely gone,” Dennis Hawkins, a Wrightwood resident, said. “I’m blessed that I’m alive. My wife and dog are fine. But it’s going to be a while before this town gets feeling good about itself again.”

Some 2,500 structures were threatened as fire officials were concerned about the fire growing even further with the red flag warning in effect. 

There were no reports of significant injuries or death.

The cause of the fire was still being investigated.

“This is currently the largest active fire in the state of California,” LA County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said. “Our priority remains the protection of life and structure and infrastructure defense.”

Massive flames from the Bridge Fire reached the Mountain High Resort in Wrightwood at one point Tuesday night.

While the resort said the flames briefly “engaged” with a few lifts, there was not significant damage.

“Great news!” the resort said in a social media post Wednesday. “All the main lifts and buildings survived with little to no damage. Thank you to all the employees and firefighters for their hard work.”

The resort had initially said base facilities remained intact.

Orange County Sep 10

Airport Fire doubles in size within hours in Trabuco Canyon

Wildfires Sep 10

Arson arrest made in 34,000-acre Line Fire in San Bernardino County

Evacuation orders

• The areas north of Angeles Crest Highway near Largo Vista.
• The areas of Angeles National Forest east of the San Gabriel Reservoir and Morris Reservoir.
• The areas south of Angeles Crest Highway near Big Pines and Wrightwood.
• Baldy Village north of the San Antonio Dam up to the Mt. Baldy Resort.
• East Fork communities of Camp Williams Resort (including the café, mobile home park, and campground) and the adjacent River Community.

Evacuation warnings

• Foothill Communities including portions of Claremont, La Verne, and San Dimas.
• The area of Valyermo, the area near the Crystalaire Country Club, and the area west of Juniper Hills.

Road closures

• Foothill Communities including portions of Claremont, La Verne, and San Dimas.
• The area of Valyermo, the area near the Crystalaire Country Club, and the area west of Juniper Hills.

Human shelters

• Antelope Valley Fairgrounds: 2551 W Avenue H, Lancaster, CA 93536
• Pomona Fairplex: 601 W McKinley Avenue Pomona, CA 91768
  • Enter at Gate 3 and park next to the Sheraton. Then follow Red Cross signs leading to Expo Hall 5.
• Note: The shelter in Hacienda Heights is now closed.

Animal shelters

• Palmdale Animal Care Center (Small Animals Only): 38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale, CA 93550
• Lancaster Animal Care Center (Small Animals Only): 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536
• Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (Large Animals Only): 2551 W Avenue H, Lancaster, CA 93536
  • For Large Animal Sheltering at the Fairgrounds, please call 562-706-8581 prior to arrival.

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A man was arrested on suspicion of starting a fire that spread wildly to the more than 34,000-acre Line Fire that prompted several evacuations in San Bernardino County.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said law enforcement arrested 34-year-old Justin Wayne Halstenberg of Norco in connection with the massive blaze. Officials accuse the man of starting the fire in the area of Baseline Road and Alpin Street in Highland.

Halstenberg was arrested Tuesday and booked into the Central Detention Center. He is being held on $80,000 bail.

The blaze began in the City of Highland on Thursday and has since exploded to more than 34,000 acres as it continues to rip through the San Bernardino National Forest. Triple-digit weather brought to the Southland thanks to a heat wave created challenging conditions for crews combating the fire. Now, firefighters are concerned that incoming winds anticipated Tuesday night could make humidity levels drop and help the fire spread.

For a map of where major wildfires in Southern California are burning, click here.

Wildfires Sep 9

Line Fire in San Bernardino County scorches over 26,000 acres

San Bernardino County Sep 8

School closures, more evacuation orders as Line Fire grows to 23,000 acres

The hot weather, coupled with steep terrain in remote areas, has proved to be a challenge for crews working tirelessly to upend the blaze. At least three firefighters have been hurt in the fire.

As of Tuesday, roughly 2,100 personnel were working to combat the fire, which threatened 65,000 structures. The danger the blaze brings prompted several evacuation orders and warnings:

Evacuation orders

• CA-38 and Middle Control Rd, Angelus Oaks
• Garnett Street east to the 138 and Mill Creek north to the foothills
• The area from Calle Del Rio to Hwy 38, including Greenspot Road North
• All underdeveloped land east of Highway 330 to Summertrail Place and north of Highland Avenue
• The areas of Running Spring east of Highway 330 and south of Highway 18 
• The communities of Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake 
• The area east of Orchard Road to Cloverhill from Highland Avenue north to the foothills
• North of Highland Avenue and East of Palm Avenue to Highway 330
• Garnett Street east to 38 and Mill Creek north to the foothills 
• Forest Falls
• Mountain Home Village

Evacuation warnings

• From Calle Del Rio east to Highway 38 and from Greenspot Road north to the foothills
• From 210 freeway east to the foothills and from Greenspot road north to the foothills
• The community of Green Valley Lake north from Highway 18 along Green Valley Lake Road
• The communities of Cedar Glen, Lake Arrowhead, Twin Peaks, Crestline, and Valley of Enchantment
• The area from Garnet Street east to Bryant Street and Carter Street north to Mill Creek
• The area of Big Bear Valley from the dam to Cactus Road
• Garnett Street east to Highway 38 and Mill Creek north to the foothills

Road closures

• Highway 18 is closed going northbound (inbound) from Kuffle Canyon to Running Springs. Only southbound (outbound) traffic is allowed.
• Highway 18 is closed from Running Springs to Highway 38 (Big Bear Dam).
• Highway 330 is closed from Highland Ave to Highway 18 in Running Springs.

Evacuation shelters

• San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, Building 6 — 14800 7th St., Victorville, CA 92395
• Jesse Turner Community Center — 15556 Summit Ave., Fontana, CA 92336
• Devore Animal Shelter (Large and Small Animals) — 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino, CA 92407

One method crews are using in their effort is fighting the fire with fire.

“With the steep terrain up here and the vegetation and the way it’s burning, what we do is we put a little bit of fire on the ground up here on our road that we’re trying to hold and burn slowly downhill toward on our main fire, close that down a little bit and what that creates is called a black line,” said Capt. John Clingingsmith Jr., Riverside County Fire PIO. “It’s basically everything that’s burnt up and slows the fire down and helps us get a containment line.”

Due to the intensity of the fire, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency to provide state resources to assist in the firefight. On Monday, the California National Guard arrived in San Bernardino County to help evacuation areas.

Gov. Newsom, who visited Southern California Wednesday, issued a state of emergency in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Orange and Riverside counties as the Bridge and Airport Fires grew. Newsom had proclaimed a state of emergency for San Bernardino County for the Line Fire on Monday.

After a string of days with temperatures over 100-degree in many areas, temperatures cooled by mid-week, aiding firefighters.

Here are the active wildfires by county.

Los Angeles County

The Bridge Fire in the Angeles National Forest near Glendora burned over 50,000 acres at 9% containment.

As of Sunday night, the fire has burned 54,658 acres and is affecting both Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

The fire is now the largest active fire burning in California, according to LA County Sheriff Robert Luna.

Since the wildfire was first reported Sunday at around 2 p.m., evacuation orders were issued for nearby neighborhoods, including the Baldy Village area from the dam to Mt. Baldy Resort.

Luckily, Mountain High ski resort was not damaged despite flames were seen surrounding the structures Tuesday night. The popular ski resort says they used their snowmaking system to fight the fires and possibly saved the resort.

Orange County

The Airport Fire in Trabuco Canyon quickly grew to over 23,000 acres since it was first reported Monday.

As of Sunday evening, the fire had burned 23,494 and was 19% contained.

The fire is now also affecting Riverside County, according to Cal Fire and is 5% contained as of Thursday evening.

Several communities were under evacuation orders and warnings as of Tuesday afternoon. 

Luckily, fire officials said they were cautiously optimistic that the dropping temperatures and rising humidity would help firefighters make progress.

Two people were injured while 10 firefighters were treated for minor injuries.

San Bernardino County

Firefighters battling the Line Fire hoped to turn the tide Tuesday as the heat wave was coming to end, accompanied by a slight chance of showers and thunderstorms.

The Line Fire has burned 38,804 acres at 42% containment as of Friday morning. It has threatened 65,600 structures in the area.

A man was arrested on suspicion of starting a fire that spread wildly to the Line Fire.

Riverside County

Firefighters have made great progress in the Tenaja Fire after it burned 130 acres near Lake Elsinore.

The fire was 95% contained Tuesday.

A local emergency was proclaimed in Riverside County so the county could assess more firefighting and repair resources.

San Diego County

Since the Roblar Fire over the weekend, it burned 1,000 acres near Camp Pendleton.

Luckily, fire crews were able to stop the progress as the fire was 85% contained Tuesday.

Kern County

The Borel Fire destroyed 223 structures and damaged 29 others.

Since it was reported on July 24, the fire in the Sequoia National Forest scorched nearly 60,000 acres.  

The wildfire was 95% contained as of Tuesday.

The Train Fire that burned 48 acres in Bealville was 65% contained.

The Airport Fire in Trabuco Canyon exploded in size Tuesday to scorch over 20,000 acres at 0% containment largely due a “wind phenomenon,” officials said.

The fire is currently burning 22,376 acres as of Wednesday afternoon, according to Cal Fire.

The Elsinore effect, which can cause erratic fire behavior as a result of steep mountains and precarious weather patterns, further fanned flames downhill.

“You will have up canyon winds that are normal during the day, and then around 2, 3 o’clock in the afternoon, the winds usually will become a down canyon wind in Lake Elsinore,” Cal Fire Battalion Chief Todd Hopkins explained in a news conference Tuesday.

Posing more threats to firefighters, the flames now entered the steep, hard-to-reach terrain.

“My understanding is the fire has jumped the Ortega Highway and is now working into Decker Canyon,” Brian Fennessy, Fire Chief of the Orange County Fire Authority, said. “Anybody that knows anything about Decker Canyon and Riverside County knows that that is a very difficult place to fight fire.”

Despite firefighters’ overnight efforts, more than 3,000 homes were threatened by the wildfire, prompting additional mandatory evacuations in the area.

Two firefighters were recovering after suffering heat-related injuries, officials said.

How it started

The Airport Fire was reported at around 1:15 p.m. Monday on Trabuco Creek Road near an remote-controlled airplane airport, went from scorching 7 acres to over 2,000 acres within a few hours.

The wildfire was caused unintentionally by heavy equipment that workers were using to move boulders along Trabuco Creek Road, officials said. Despite workers’ effort to stop the spread with their fire extinguishers, the fire took off amid breezy, dry conditions. 

Evacuation orders, warnings

Additional mandatory evacuations were issued Tuesday for areas along Ortega Highway near Caspers Park, officials with the Orange County Fire Authority said. 

And more neighborhoods were under evacuation warnings, including Silverado Canyon and Modjeska Canyon.

See the map of areas under evacuation orders, warnings here.

As the heavy smoke from the fire has blanketed the area, neighbors scrambled to pack up and get to safety.

“I couldn’t think in that moment. I just grabbed my dog, and that’s it, Fernando Garcia said after leaving her home.

While the fire was burning away from the homes Tuesday, there is no word when people would be allowed to return.

“I hope they get a good handle on it today. I know they’ll have a lot of resources on it today because there are more homes around this way,” Laurie Nowocinski, who evacuated her Robinson Ranch home, said.

Road closures

The following roads were closed to the public as fire crews battled the flames.

• Plano Trabuco and Joshua Drive
• Plano Trabuco and Robinson Ranch
• Antonio and Alas de Paz
• Trabuco Canyon and Trabuco Creek
• Santa Margarita and Antonio
• Santiago Canyon Road and Live Oak Canyon Road

Wildfires Sep 9

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Wildfires Sep 9

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Shelters

A temporary shelter is set up at the Lake Forest Sports Park located at 28000 Vista Terrace in Lake Forest, available to provide assistance until 10 p.m. Monday.

A long-term care shelter was established at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center at 22232 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita.

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The Airport Fire exploded in size overnight to more than 9,000 acres, forcing evacuations in Orange County Monday.

More than 1,000 firefighters were working overnight to try extinguish the flames in the Trabuco Canyon area.

The fire was reported at around 1:15 p.m. on Trabuco Creek Road near an remote-controlled airplane airport, went from scorching 7 acres to over 2,000 acres within a few hours. By 9:30 p.m. Monday, the blaze grew to burn more than 5,400 acres with 0% containment.

By Tuesday morning, the fire had scorched 9,333 acres with 0% containment.

Officials said a family of three — a husband, wife and their 3-year-old child, were rescued while hiking on Joplin trail.

Separately, a man and a cat were resting at a shelter after being rescued from the trail as well.

The rescued people were flown out of the fire zone with aircraft flown by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department, officials said.

The latest fire was moving toward the site of the Holy Fire, which burned more than 23,000 acres in 2018, officials said.

Evacuation orders, warnings

In addition to the mandatory evacuation order issued for those in Robinson Ranch and Trabuco Highlands, officials said those under evacuation warnings should be prepared to leave their homes.

“Don’t wait for a mandatory evacuation order. If you are under an involuntary evacuation order, please know those are not issued lightly. That is the time to get going,” Orange County Supervisor Don Wagner said during a news conference with fire officials.

The map of the neighborhoods under evacuation orders and warnings can be found here.

Road closures

The following roads were closed to the public as fire crews battled the flames.

• Santiago Canyon Road and Live Oak Canyon Road
• Plano Trabuco and Joshua Drive
• Plano Trabuco and Robinson Ranch
• Antonio and Alas de Paz
• Trabuco Canyon and Trabuco Creek
• Santa Margarita and Antonio
• Avenida Empresa and Santa Margarita Parkway

Real-time map updates on road closures can be found here.

Shelters

A temporary shelter is set up at the Lake Forest Sports Park located at 28000 Vista Terrace in Lake Forest, available to provide assistance until 10 p.m. Monday.

A long-term care shelter was established at the Bell Tower Regional Community Center at 22232 El Paseo, Rancho Santa Margarita.

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Animals

A large animal shelter was established at 88 Fair Drive in the city of Costa Mesa.

Mission Viejo Animal Services set up a meet-and-reunite area inside the Ralphs parking lot at Santa Margarita Parkway to help people with pets.

OC Animal Care, located at 1630 Victory Road in the city of Tustin, is also able to shelter other pets. 

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Firefighters battling the Line Fire in San Bernardino County remain concerned the more than 20,000-acre blaze could grow significantly within the next 48 hours as they face unfavorable conditions that are feeding the fire.

Amid triple-digit temperatures in this sweltering heat wave, more than 1,700 firefighters are working to contain the massive blaze ripping through the San Bernardino National Forest. The fire began Thursday night and as of Monday night, swelled to 26,516 acres with 5% containment.

San Bernardino County Sep 8

School closures, more evacuation orders as Line Fire grows to 23,000 acres

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“Really tough fire, still,” Cal Fire Battalion Chief Brent Pascua said. “Same conditions as the last few days – hot, dry and we have thunderstorms predicted again for today.”

The hot weather, coupled with steep terrain in remote areas, has proved to be a challenge for crews working tirelessly to upend the blaze, which is threatening about 36,000 structures. Three firefighters were injured in the blaze.

Due to the fire, Bear Valley Unified School District canceled classes for Monday and Tuesday.

Gov. Gavin Newsom also issued a state of emergency because of the fire. The National Guard arrived Monday night to help law enforcement keep order.

The following evacuation orders and warnings have been issued:

Evacuation orders

• CA-38 and Middle Control Rd, Angelus Oaks
• Garnett Street east to the 138 and Mill Creek north to the foothills
• The area from Calle Del Rio to Hwy 38, including Greenspot Road North
• All underdeveloped land east of Highway 330 to Summertrail Place and north of Highland Avenue
• The areas of Running Spring east of Highway 330 and south of Highway 18 
• The communities of Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake 
• The area east of Orchard Road to Cloverhill from Highland Avenue north to the foothills
• North of Highland Avenue and East of Palm Avenue to Highway 330
• Garnett Street east to 38 and Mill Creek north to the foothills 
• Forest Falls
• Mountain Home Village

Evacuation warnings

• Neighborhoods east of Church Street, north of Highland Avenue
• Neighborhoods east of Weaver, north of Greenspot to the Iron Bridge
• Green Valley Lake
• Cedar Glen, Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, and Valley of Enchantment

Road closures

• Highway 18 is closed going northbound (inbound) from Kuffle Canyon to Running Springs. Only southbound (outbound) traffic is allowed.
• Highway 18 is closed from Running Springs to Highway 38 (Big Bear Dam).
• Highway 330 is closed from Highland Ave to Highway 18 in Running Springs.

Evacuation shelters

• San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, Building 6 — 14800 7th St., Victorville, CA 92395
• Jesse Turner Community Center — 15556 Summit Ave., Fontana, CA 92336
• Devore Animal Shelter (Large and Small Animals) — 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino, CA 92407

As the Bridge Fire burned over 3,000 acres in the Angeles National Forest as of Tuesday morning, authorities issued an additional mandatory evacuation order, urging those living and working near Mt. Baldy to leave the area immediately.

The fire has burned 3,786 acres with 0% containment as of Tuesday morning. A smoke advisory is in effect for several areas as the Bridge Fire, Line Fire and Airport Fire continue to burn.

The evacuation order affects all residents north of the San Antonio Dam up to the Mt. Baldy Resort, officials said.

Drivers were urged not to use Mt. Baldy Road as they heed the evacuation order to leave the area. 

Highway 39, East Fork Road, Glendora Mountain Road, and Glendora Ridge Road were also closed as fire crews battled the flames.

The Bridge Fire started at 2:12 p.m. Sunday near Camp Bonita Road, East of Camp Williams, according to Cal Fire.

The fire was at 0% containment as of Monday evening.”Overnight, the fire behavior was extremely active, moving south to Glendora Mountain Road,” Forest Service officials said Monday, adding that firefighters Monday would focus heavily on structural protection of the communities in the East Fork and preventing further fire spread to the south.

Other areas under the evacuation orders include:

• East Fork communities of Camp Williams Resort (café, mobile home park, campground)
• Adjacent river community per Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

San Bernardino County Sep 8

School closures, more evacuation orders as Line Fire grows to 23,000 acres

Orange County Sep 9

Airport Fire in Trabuco Canyon explodes in size, forcing mandatory evacuation orders

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The Airport Fire that broke out in Trabuco Canyon in Orange County grew to burn about 2,000 acres Monday afternoon, prompting evacuation orders for those who live in the area.

The mandatory evacuation order affects those in Robinson Ranch and Trabuco Highlands communities.

Due to “a potential threat to life and/or property,” evacuation warnings were also issued in Robinson Ranch, Rose Canyon Road, Trabuco Creek Road, Trabuco Canyon Road, Trabuco Oaks Drive, Joplin Loop and Cook’s Corner.

More detailed evacuation information can be found here.

Firefighters responded to the brush fire after it was first reported at around 1:15 p.m. on Trabuco Creek Road near an remote-controlled airplane airport, according to the OC Fire Authority. 

More than 40 units of firefighters attacked the fire from ground and air, the OC Fire Authority said.

Engine strike teams, hand crews, dozers, helicopters and fixed wing aircraft were deployed to put out the flames.

Wildfires Sep 9

Southern California facing bad air quality, more fire danger

San Bernardino County Sep 8

State of emergency declared for 20,000-acre Line Fire

Drivers were urged to avoid the area so firefighters can respond and work safely.

‘Unhealthy’ air

As warm temperatures trap the smoke and particles emitted from the brush fires, most of Southern California falls under the “unhealthy” air quality category, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

The Inland Empire, where the Line Fire has burned more than 20,000 acres of land, is under a smoke advisory as the air quality is considered unhealthy to very unhealthy for seniors as well as the general population due to a high level of pollutants in the air.

“Even in areas far from fires or areas not covered by a smoke advisory, if you can smell smoke or see ash from a wildfire, avoid or limit outdoor activities,” the AQMD said. 

In Orange County, the air quality in Orange County is considered unhealthy.

The air quality forecast said the Los Angeles County area could see moderate to unhealthy air quality.

More fire dangers

In addition to the triple-digit temperatures Southern California faced Monday, gusty winds and lightning elevated fire conditions across mountains, valleys and deserts, the National Weather Service (NWS) warned. 

The NWS issued a red flag warning of heightened fire danger for the Santa Monica Mountains Recreational Area, San Gabriel Mountains, Western Antelope Valley Foothills and the 5 and 14 Freeway corridors until 10 p.m. Saturday.

Forecasters said wind conditions will “limit the potential for classic red flag criteria,” however, “there is a history of large fires with similar weather conditions during this time of the year.”

The NWS said humidity levels could drop to between 8% and 15% in the red flag areas, with little recovery during overnight hours. 

Due to the high heat and heightened fire risk, Malibu’s Trancas Canyon Park and Charmlee Wilderness Park were closed until further notice, according to the city.

Smokey hurdle for fire crews

Pyrocumulus, which are dense clouds associated with fires and volcanoes, were seen near the sites of the Bridge and Line Fires Monday, affecting firefighters’ visibility.

The cumulus cloud can sometimes be mixed with clouds, NBC Los Angeles meteorologist David Biggar said.

“The main threats for firefighters from these are collapsing pyrocumulus clouds, creating gusty and erratic winds,” Biggar said.

The winds and updrafts can also loft embers, which could lead to spot fires and create more challenges for firefighters.

San Bernardino County Sep 8

State of emergency declared for 20,000-acre Line Fire

San Gabriel Valley Sep 8

Bridge Fire continues to grow in the Angeles National Forest near Glendora

City News Service contributed to this report.

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A state of emergency has been declared in San Bernardino County as firefighters continue battling a more than 20,000-acre blaze amid a sweltering heat wave that’s been scorching Southern California.

The quick-moving Line Fire began burning in Highland on Thursday and has since grown to 20,552 acres and only 3% contained as of Monday morning, according to Cal Fire. Thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate their homes as crews not only battle the blaze, but the elements that are contributing to the fire’s growth.

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Spreading rapidly through the San Bernardino National Forest, the Line Fire has posed a challenge to firefighters since steep terrain, triple-digit temperatures and thunderstorms have contributed to the erratic fire behavior.

About 600 firefighters are working to contain the fire, which is threatening roughly 8,000 structures near its path.

“First thing I grabbed was my mother’s ashes,” said Blaine Bacher, an Arrowbear Lake resident who vacated his home. “Second thing I grabbed was my dog’s things and next thing I did was make sure that my stepdad got his butt out of there and then everything else was an afterthought.”

The following evacuations have been issued:

Evacuation orders

• CA-38 and Middle Control Rd, Angelus Oaks
• Garnett Street east to the 138 and Mill Creek north to the foothills
• The area from Calle Del Rio to Hwy 38, including Greenspot Road North
• All underdeveloped land east of Highway 330 to Summertrail Place and north of Highland Avenue
• The areas of Running Spring east of Highway 330 and south of Highway 18 
• The communities of Running Springs and Arrow Bear Lake 
• The area east of Orchard Road to Cloverhill from Highland Avenue north to the foothills
• North of Highland Avenue and East of Palm Avenue to Highway 330

Evacuation warnings

• Neighborhoods east of Church Street, north of Highland Avenue
• Neighborhoods east of Weaver, north of Greenspot to the Iron Bridge
• Green Valley Lake
• Cedar Glen, Lake Arrowhead, Crestline, and Valley of Enchantment

Road closures

• Highway 18 is closed going northbound (inbound) from Kuffle Canyon to Running Springs. Only southbound (outbound) traffic is allowed.
• Highway 18 is closed from Running Springs to Highway 38 (Big Bear Dam).
• Highway 330 is closed from Highland Ave to Highway 18 in Running Springs.

Evacuation shelters

• San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, Building 6 — 14800 7th St., Victorville, CA 92395
• Jesse Turner Community Center — 15556 Summit Ave., Fontana, CA 92336
• Devore Animal Shelter (Large and Small Animals) — 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino, CA 92407

Air quality

Due to the fire, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) issued a wildfire smoke advisory for a large part of the Southland that ranges from Menifee to just above Santa Clarita.

The AQMD said that satellite imagery showed smoke passing overheard across the South Coast Air Basin. Monitors and sensors detected that areas near the Line Fire measured at AQI levels that ranged from moderate to hazardous, with the highest levels recorded in Highland, Running Springs and Lake Arrowhead.

As a result, the advisory will be in effect through 5 p.m. Sunday.

State of emergency

Gov. Gavin Newsom’s state of emergency proclamation allows for state aid in the firefight and support for residents who may be impacted.

As part of the response, the state has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The declaration also allows residents who may be displaced by the blaze to have easier access to unemployment benefits and fees waived for legal documents such as marriage and birth certificates, and replacement for driver’s licenses.

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The Line Fire, which started in the east portion of the city of Highland in San Bernardino County Thursday afternoon, grew to 17,459 acres Sunday, according to Cal Fire.

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Evacuation orders

• Areas from Calle Del Rio to Highway 38, including Greenspot Road north
• All undeveloped land east of Highway 330 to Summertrail Place and north of Highland Avenue
• The areas of Running Spring east of Highway 330 and south of Highway 18 
• The communities of Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake 
• The area east of Orchard Road to Cloverhill from Highland Avenue north to the foothills

Evacuation warnings

• Neighborhoods east of Church St, north of Highland Ave.
• Neighborhoods east of Weaver, north of Greenspot to the Iron Bridge.

Resources for pets

Residents who need to evacuate can take their pets and livestock to the Devore Animal Shelter, which is located at 19777 Shelter Way in Devore.

Anyone dropping off their animal companions should make sure they have identification such as a collar or tags and any necessary medication.

More than 500 firefighters from different agencies were battling the wildfires despite the triple-digit temperatures. 

The fire crews in Highland said they typically carry 50 to 70 lbs. of equipment during their 24-hour shift, often having to walk uphill to get to the best spot to put out the flames.

LineFire
Animal Care Resources!https://t.co/5dTnPLK08u pic.twitter.com/LVyVgMwIs3

— San Bernardino County Sheriff (@sbcountysheriff) September 7, 2024

“It’s hot right now. It’s 110 degrees, so it taxes everyone,” said Justin Veloz, a firefighter with the Rialto Fire Department. “But once you start working, you forget about it. You take breaks every hour and go slow and steady.”

Air tankers worked in constant rotation from above while ground crews tried to get the upper hand on containment.

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Two of the 16-year-olds were taken into custody earlier on Thursday, Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson said, adding the brush fire, which destroyed seven homes and damaged 18 others, was caused by illegal use of fireworks.

“(The fire) caused immeasurable levels of fear among the residents who were rightly afraid for their safety,” Dawson said. “All fireworks are illegal in the city of Riverside for a reason.”

The two arrested teens were booked into a juvenile detention facilities while the other suspect would face charges out of Riverside County, the mayor explained.

Officials did not disclose the teens’ gender, schools and other details due to their age.

The Hawarden Fire, which was first reported at around 1 p.m. on July 21 as temperatures reached over 100 degrees with moderate winds.

The fire, which scorched over 600 acres, cost the city at least $1.5 million in response while the damages to the homes are estimated to be about $28 million, officials said.

Investigators said video footage showed the suspects running away in a silver pickup truck as soon as the fireworks went off.

“After canvassing the neighborhood, investigators located the silver pickup and subsequently identified three individuals as 16-year-old juveniles,” Chief Larry Gonzalez with the Riverside Police Department said. “Search warrants were obtained and served at their homes where electronic devices were seized as part of this investigation as well.”

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While the fire was put contained about eight days later, those who lost their properties continue to suffer in the aftermath.

“To those who lost their homes, we pray for you. We can’t imagine the emotional stress you’ve gone through,” Riverside City Councilmember Chuck Condor said. “To those who had minor damage or no damage, you still suffered tremendous emotional scars. It’s hard for me to imagine what you all thought that day.”

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As of 9 a.m. Thursday, the Post Fire burned at least 130 acres with 40% containment, according to Cal Fire officials. 

Officials said evacuations were ordered as a wind shift. As of 11 p.m. Wednesday, all evacuation orders and warnings were lifted.

The first fully operational C-130 Hercules airtanker was deployed Monday with six more of the four-engine turboprop planes, originally designed to serve as a military transport aircraft, set to join Cal Fire’s arsenal.

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The aircraft were added to the fleet with passage of the National Defense Authorization Act by Congress that was signed into law by President Biden in December 2023. The legislation authorized the transfer of the retired U.S. Coast Guard planes to the state of California.

The C-130Hs were then modified with a 4,000-gallon tank and fire retardant delivery system, to perform critical retardant drops on wildfires. Cal Fire’s S-2T airtanker has a 1,200-gallon tank with a loaded range of 500 miles.

The first C-130H went into service at McClellan Airtanker Base outside of Sacramento, making California the first state to deploy the aircraft for firefighting missions.

The colossal aircraft with a gross weight of 155,000 pounds with a wingspan of 133 feet is powered by four Allison turboprop engines, each of which puts out 4,300 horsepower.

Capable of flying 800 miles with its payload of 4,000 gallons of fire retardant, the C130H has the greatest range of Cal Fire’s aerial fleet. The aircraft has a range of 3,000 miles without its payload.

“As wildfire frequency and severity increase across California, the introduction of this aircraft will undoubtedly play a crucial role in helping us achieve our initial attack goals, particularly in our efforts to keep 95% of fires at 10 acres or less,” said Cal Fire Chief Joe Tyler in a statement.

The seven C130Hs will be located at air bases throughout the state.

The Tenaja Fire started Sunday just before noon and quickly grew to 100 acres along the Tenaja Truck Trail. By Monday morning, the fire was at 130 acres with containment at 25 percent.

The fire’s forward rate of spread was under control by late Sunday.

El Carissa Village was under an evacuation warning. Ortega Highway was temporarily closed in both directions, but later reopened.

Lakeside High School at 32593 Riverside Drive in Lake Elsinore was opened to evacuees. The San Jacinto Animal Shelter at 581 S. Grand Ave. was taking in larger animals.

Details about how the fire started were not immediately available.

Firefighters responded just before 11 a.m. to a report of a fire burning next to an overturned big rig and construction excavator near Pyramid Lake. The truck driver suffered minor injuries.

The Moto Fire spread to brush on the side of the freeway and spread to about 20 acres. At least one water-dropping helicopter responded to the scene.

Several northbound lanes on the 5 Freeway south of Vista del Lago were closed. Traffic was backed up for miles by midday.

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“Crews are making progress with hoselays on the perimeter of the fire,” Angeles National Forest said in a post on X. “Challenges are heavy brush, short range spot fire and terrain.”

Details about the cause of the fire were not immediately available.

#MotorFire Impressive drops from firefighting aircraft!

Crews are making progress with hoselays on the perimeter of the fire.
Challenges are heavy brush, short range spot fire and terrain. pic.twitter.com/6cHm7h5qB0

— Angeles National Forest (@Angeles_NF) August 23, 2024

But that check won’t reach its destination.

“The address it’s supposed to go to is no longer,” Baker said.

In a painful deja vu, the new house burned in the Park Fire on July 25. Some of Baker’s family members watched their Ring camera feed until flames extinguished it.

Baker and his wife, Sylvia, had settled in Cohasset, a rural community with a scattering of houses along winding forest roads about 5 miles from Paradise. Now, they are staying in his son’s spare bedroom back in Paradise, contemplating how to rebuild for the second time in six years.“Daunting,” he said, identifying with the Greek legend of Sisyphus. “Rolling it up the hill and watching it roll back down again.”

The Park Fire is the fourth-largest in California’s history, and Baker is not the only person who lost a second house to it. Three other Camp Fire victims told NBC News similar stories of back-to-back losses.

“We had our peace. We had our spot,” said Michael Daneau, adding that he and his wife, Kristy, had finally started to feel fully settled in Cohasset. “It’s gone once again. There’s no way in this moment to fathom how we’re going to recover from this, except staying positive and keeping with our family and group of friends.”The families’ stories show how risky and challenging it can be for those whose lives are rooted in fire-prone parts of California, as destructive blazes become more extreme and frequent because of climate change and forest management issues.

They also demonstrate the way these losses can be compounding and cyclical: Several families said their displacement in the Camp Fire thrust them into a hard-luck housing market with little choice but to settle again in a wildfire-prone community. Others poured effort into hardening their new homes against wildfire, but it wasn’t enough.

The Camp Fire burned for weeks in November 2018, killing 85 people and destroying more than 13,500 homes.

Rick Pero narrowly survived with his wife, Lisa Stone. The two tried to get out as quickly as possible, but their skittish cat, CatMandu, was zooming around their Paradise home.

“It was eight minutes we did not have,” Pero said.

The couple soon found themselves in the car with CatMandu, surrounded by flames, in a group of about 20 other vehicles — some with melting side panels. A fire truck used a water cannon and hydrant to douse the group.

“Transformers and propane tanks were exploding. Houses were burning all around us,” Pero said.Eventually, they made their way to a grocery store parking lot, then caravanned out when conditions improved.

About a year later, Pero, now 70, and Stone settled in a subdivision called Forest Ranch, just east of Cohasset. He became the head of the neighborhood’s wildfire mitigation committee.

Each year, he brought in hundreds of goats to chew a fire break around the neighborhood. Pero chopped down bushes — “ladder fuels” — created a 40-foot buffer of “defensible space” around his property and built a fire road for truck access.

“We had this wonderful, incredible view — 365 days a year — the sunset. That was such a gift,” Pero said.

As the Park Fire erupted, he was in Mexico. His cat sitter was unable to corral CatMandu when the evacuation order came.Pero later visited his property, which burned to the ground, and found CatMandu’s remains in his usual hiding place — under the red TV chair. Pero buried his treasured pet near the house, one of only three that burned in the neighborhood of 28 homes.

“We miss the loving cat, the cuddle-up in our arms,” Pero said, choking up. “I would kind of sing to him when he ate.”

The Daneau family — Michael, Kristy and their four daughters — were scattered around Paradise when the Camp Fire evacuation notice came, and they fled separately with friends, family or strangers. Michael frantically took their calls.

At one point, he lost contact with Kristy, who had stayed at an elementary school to make sure students with disabilities got to safety; when their phones reconnected, Michael remained on the line as Kristy drove through flames.

When they finally found each other, Daneau said they shared a moment of realization: “Now we’re homeless.”

The Daneaus and their four dogs spent three weeks in a hotel, then two months in a fifth-wheel RV in a parking lot near the airport in Chico, California. The roof leaked.

“Tension was high to say the least,” Daneau said.

The couple secured a fire insurance payment and put offers on a dozen homes, but lost out. With tens of thousands of people displaced after the fire, survivors were left scrambling to find housing.

“That’s what led us to Cohasset,” Daneau said. “We said absolutely not, we’re not going to move into a fire zone. We weren’t forced into it, but our only other option was staying in a fifth wheel.”

In Cohasset, a man put his home up for sale with specific conditions: The buyer had to be a family that survived the Camp Fire.“Everything was rainy and beautiful and green. The cedar trees were vibrant. You could smell the pines,” Daneau said. “My wife fell in love.”

The seller gave them the house for $10,000 less than their offer.

The Park Fire started when a man pushed a burning car into a gully in a Chico city park on July 24, authorities say. That afternoon, temperatures climbed to 106 degrees Fahrenheit. The car ignited vegetation, and the blaze grew to more than 70,000 acres in roughly 24 hours.

The fire reached parts of Cohasset that evening.

Michael and Kristy Daneau left with their youngest daughter, now 17, and joined a convoy of cars that became mired in confusion without consistent cell reception.

“People were blindly leading and following each other” down a maze of logging roads, Daneau said. It took them seven hours to get to Chico, typically a 20-minute drive on their normal route.

Daneau, Baker and Pero were part of the settlement with Pacific Gas & Electric Co., whose utility lines started the Camp Fire. Each said they have still received only a few relatively small payments and are frustrated by the process.

Baker, 59, is an Iraq War veteran who works for the Department of Veterans Affairs in Chico. During the Camp Fire, he said, “the only reason I got out was because I grew up in this area and knew the shortcuts and back roads.”He intended to rebuild in Paradise, but “all the building materials and available contractors, everything started going up exponentially in price,” he said. So he and his wife, Sylvia, bought a “transition home” in Cohasset.

When the Park Fire got close, he had a second narrow escape through the flames.

Now two-time wildfire victims, these families know what’s ahead.

“You’ve lost everything. You’ve got nothing. You’ve already gotten over that mentally once. When you have to do that a second time, you kind of know what to expect,” said Alex Wood, 26, who also lost homes in both the Camp and Park fires.The 2018 fire destroyed all of Wood’s possessions when he was just 21. He spent months sleeping either in his ’99 GMC Sonoma or on friends’ couches. Eventually, a family friend offered him a rental in Cohasset — a building the Park Fire decimated last month.

Wood bought a trailer that he plans to tow to the burned property. He hopes to purchase it and build anew.

If it weren’t for his family and his workplace, Wood said, “I don’t think I’d stay in California.”

Pero and his wife are considering their options now, including moving away.

“We’re thinking with drought and global warming and the water issues in California, we’re just kind of concerned with what’s California going to look like,” he said.

Pero’s house was insured, but the Daneaus gave up their insurance when the costs got too high. Insuring their Cohasset house cost about $7,000 the first year, then around $10,000 the next, Daneau said. When the quote jumped to $12,000, “it became unobtainable.”

The couple are staying with Daneau’s father and don’t know what’s next. They’d like to live near the coast but won’t leave their children, who have all settled nearby.Their main priority is “getting away from fires,” Daneau said. “Even if it means living in a city, we’ll damn well do it. We can’t put ourselves in this position again.”

For Baker, generations of family remain in the Paradise area and he doesn’t want to leave. He is negotiating with a developer to purchase a new home there.

He views the risk as lower now because so many trees have burned and the landscape has become more suburban. The city has new water systems and the houses are built to modern fire codes and with a sprinkler system.

Baker said he’s been grateful for an outpouring of community support.

“It’s humbling to consider yourself a self-made man, and sit on the side of the street with no home and no property that two hours ago you had,” he said. “You have to reassess and redirect your efforts and prioritize and continue on with your mission — and of course the mission is living.”

Steve Patterson contributed.

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The fire was reported in the 3300 block of Beverly Drive in the Little Mountain area. It was reported sometime around 2:40 p.m. when the temperature at the time was 109 degrees.

The fire was quickly described as an “immediate structure threat” and as of 5:45 p.m., was held at 54 acres with 25% containment, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department. By Tuesday morning, the 100-acre fire was 75-percent contained.

“They’re really, really devastated because of their loss,” Diaz said. “You know, all the material (things), it doesn’t really matter. The motor home, the car, you know, it doesn’t really matter. It’s all material. But when you lose a pet, a loved one, it’s more difficult.”

Details about how the fire started were not immediately available.

The San Bernardino Police Department said one person was detained in connection with the fire, but officials did not release more information regarding that. They later said that individual was released.

***EVACUATION ORDER***

For the #EdgehillFire, an evacuation order has been issued for:

All residents living on the south side of and south of Ridge Line Drive

All residents living on the north side and north of Edgehill Rd west to and including Beverly Drive; east to Circle… pic.twitter.com/9WjuY83zJ7

— San Bernardino County Fire (@SBCOUNTYFIRE) August 5, 2024

The non-injury Alamos Fire was reported at 3:22 p.m. on the north side of Los Alamos Hills Sports Park, near the intersection of Los Alamos Road and Ruth Ellen Way, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

The agency said multiple engine and hand crews from the county and Murrieta Fire and Rescue were sent to the location and encountered flames burning up and over the hills fronting the park.

The flames were moving at a dangerous rate of spread toward Whitewood Road and the backside of Vista Murrieta High School which was not in session Friday, officials said.

Sheriff’s deputies and Murrieta police officers began shutting down Whitewood at 3:55 p.m. for public safety. Four Cal Fire air tankers and a water-dropping helicopter initiated runs on the brusher at 3:45 p.m.

The head of the fire was pointed toward a construction area, which was surrounded by open space, and officials at the scene anticipated the flames might lose momentum within the construction zone.

#alamosfire FIRE UPDATE:

72 Acres moving northeast
Structures threatened
Care and Reception and Murrieta Community Center

Evac information: https://t.co/MPL4mypWTy

— City of Murrieta (@CityOfMurrieta) August 2, 2024

Evacuation warnings were expected. There was no immediate word regarding how the fire might have started.

The Pole Fire near Apple Valley started Tuesday evening near Roundup Way and Central Road. Containment was at 30 percent with flames spreading at a moderate rate.

California Wildfires Jul 30

Northern California Park Fire becomes 5th-largest wildfire in state history

California Wildfires Jul 29

Northern California Park Fire burns area larger than LA. See the stunning satellite images

All evacuation orders were lifted Wednesday morning, according to the Apple Valley Fire Protection District.

“Crews will be working in the area over the next few days mopping up,” the District said on Facebook. “Smoke may be visible throughout the area.”

Details about a cause were not immediately available.

The state’s largest wildfire, the arson-related Park Fire in four Northern California counties, was at 389,700 acres Wednesday with containment at 18 percent. The fire started July 24 when a burning car was pushed into a brush-filled gully and is now the fifth-largest wildfire on record in California.

So far this year, the acreage burned by wildfires in California has far surpassed last year’s figure. More than 763,400 acres have burned statewide in since the start of 2024, according to Cal Fire. At this time last year, that number was at 25,900 acres. The five-year average for that period is 166,200 acres.

Below, see updates on the largest wildfires in Southern California.

Lake Fire, Santa Barbara County

The largest fire in Southern California is 92-percent contained. The 38,600-acre Lake Fire started July 5 near Zaca Lake. Closures in Los Padres National Forest remain in effect, but evacuations were lifted July 23. Details about a cause were not immediately available.

Nixon Fire, Riverside County

At nearly 5,000 acres, the Nixon Fire in southern Riverside County was just 5-percent contained early Wednesday, but authorities said there was no immediate threat to homes or other buildings. The fire started Monday around midday in the area of Richard Nixon Boulevard and Tule Peak Road.

Several structures were damaged Monday afternoon, but it was still unclear whether those were sheds and outbuildings or residences. An evacuation order was in effect for areas south of Highway 371, north of the county line, west of Terwilliger Road and east of Foolish Pleasure Road.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Vista Fire, San Bernardino County

Containment of the Vista Fire was at 95 percent early Wednesday. The fire near Lytle Creek started July 7 and grew to nearly 3,000 acres.

Apache Fire, Ventura County

The 1,500-acre Apache Fire in Cuyama Valley was 80-percent contained Wednesday morning. The fire started July 23 near Maricopa Highway and Apache Canyon Road.

The Park Fire started nearly a week ago near Chico in Butte County, about 100 miles north of Sacramento. The fire burned tens of thousands of acres in just a matter of hours as it raced into neighboring Tehama, Shasta and Plumas counties.

It expanded to 383,619 acres by Tuesday.

California Wildfires Jul 29

Northern California Park Fire burns area larger than LA. See the stunning satellite images

Wildfires Jul 28

Fires in the West are becoming ever bigger, consuming. Why and what can be done?

At roughly 600 square miles, the estimated acreage is larger than the land area of the city of Los Angeles (470 square miles).

The Park Fire’s size is surpassed only by the September 202 Creek Fire (379,895 acres) in Fresno and Madera counties; the August 2020 SCU Lightning Complex (396,625 acres) in Stanislaus, Santa Clara, Alameda, Contra Costa and San Joaquin counties; the July 2018 Mendocino Complex (459,123 acres) in Colusa, Lake, Mendocino and Glenn counties; the July 2021 Dixie Fire (963,309 acres) in Butte, Plumas, Lassen, Shasta and Tehama counties; and the August Complex (1,032,648 acres), a group of fires in Mendocino, Humboldt, Trinity, Tehama, Glenn, Lake and Colusa counties that became California’s largest wildfire on record in August 2020.

The Park Fire is near the site of the most destructive and deadliest wildfire in state history, the November 2018 Camp Fire (153,336 acres) that devastated the town of Paradise.

The #ParkFire has now escalated to become the fifth-largest wildfire in California's history, severely impacting Butte, Tehama, Shasta, and Plumas counties. This development underscores the critical importance of being #ReadyforWildfire. One of the most effective ways to ensure… pic.twitter.com/Esh3drISfg

— CAL FIRE (@CAL_FIRE) July 30, 2024

It is one of more than 100 wildfires burning this week in California. Ninety-five percent of the state’s wildfires are caused by human activity, according to Cal Fire.

The largest wildfire this year in the state is one of several this summer behind a dramatic increase in the number of acres burned. So far in 2024, Cal Fire reported 4,613 fires statewide that have burned a staggering 751,327 acres.

Last year at this time, the state firefighting agency reported 3,746 fires that burned just 25,763 acres. The fire-year average for that period is 4,416 fires and 140,996 acres.

A man accused of setting the fire was arrested Thursday in connection with the Park Fire.

Containment Tuesday was at 14 percent.

Firefighters are working to combat the wind-driven Nixon Fire in the Aguanga neighborhood of Riverside County. The brush fire, which was first reported at around 12:30 p.m. Monday, grew to at least 3,700 acres as of Monday night.

There was no containment

#NixonFire [UPDATE] 9:30 p.m. – The fire has grown to 3,700 acres and remains 0% contained.

🚨 All EVACUATION ORDERS and WARNINGS remain in place. For a searchable map of the evacuation areas, visit: https://t.co/PDAXaQ7bZl

🔴 EVACUATION ORDER AREA: Zones RVC-TULE2-A,… pic.twitter.com/MEMdUO1Zfq

— CAL FIRE/Riverside County Fire Department (@CALFIRERRU) July 30, 2024

Fire officials issued an evacuation order for people who live near Richard Nixon Boulevard and Tule Valley Road, saying there is an “immediate threat to life.” An evacuation center was set up at Temecula Valley High School on Rancho Vista Road. Officials also said they are providing a shelter for animals.

It’s not clear exactly how many homes were under the threat of the fire and whether any of them were damaged or destroyed.

More than 250 firefighters are attacking flames near the San Diego County border, where hilly terrain and shifting winds posed major challenges.

The fire spread into a burn scar from the Bonny Fire that burned for more than a week last summer in Aguanga. That flank of the fire lost momentum with little fuel to burn on hillsides stripped of vegetation by the Bonny Fire, but flames continued to more toward Iron Spring Mountain near the county border.

California Wildfires Jul 29

Northern California Park Fire burns area larger than LA. See the stunning satellite images

California Wildfires Jul 8

Map: See where July's largest wildfires are burning in California

The Park Fire, one of more than 100 wildfires this week in California, began Wednesday when a burning car was pushed into a gully of dry brush in Chico. Flames spread quickly, pushing the fire to more than 45,000 in just a few hours.

Stunning satellite imagery shows the Park Fire exhibiting extreme wildfire behavior.

Today, the fire has exploded in size to more than 120,000 acres. pic.twitter.com/1VWNMCJcwO

— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) July 26, 2024

On Monday, the fire in Butte, Plumas, Shasta and Tehama counties was an estimated 368,256 acres with containment at 12 percent.

That’s roughly 562 square miles. The city of Los Angeles is about 470 square miles of land area.

Firefighters were helped by improving weather over the weekend, but flames caused widespread damage and more evacuations were ordered. The location is about 15 miles west of the town of Paradise, which was devastated by the 2018 Camp Fire. More than 80 people died and more than 18,000 structures were damaged or destroyed in the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California history.

The Park Fire exploded in size last night, becoming the largest wildfire in the state of California so far this year.

Notice how much brighter the flames appear compared to city lights in this imagery from NOAA-20. pic.twitter.com/5Lxh8S9j2K

— CIRA (@CIRA_CSU) July 25, 2024

The Park Fire had burned an area greater than the city of Los Angeles as of Monday, darkening the sky north of Sacramento. Winds and temperatures were expected to increase slightly amid a drop in humidity, officials said in an update early Monday.

Air quality alerts were issued for Monday in the northwestern U.S. and western Canada.

A man accused of setting the fire was arrested Thursday and is due in court Monday.

In California, Paradise and several other Butte County communities were under an evacuation warning Sunday. Yet the fire’s southernmost front, which is closest to Paradise, was “looking really good,” Cal Fire operations section chief Jeremy Pierce said around midday.

Officials did not expect it to move farther into Chico, a city of about 100,000 people just west of Paradise, and over the next three days crews plan to extinguish hot spots and remove hazards, Pierce said.

The focus on saving lives and endangered property has shifted to confronting the blaze head-on, Jay Tracy, a Park Fire headquarters spokesperson, told The Associated Press by phone Sunday.

Wildfires Jul 28

Fires in the West are becoming ever bigger, consuming. Why and what can be done?

California Wildfires Jul 25

Burning car pushed into gully started California fire that grew to 45,550 acres in just hours

Nearly 4,000 firefighters are battling the fire, aided by numerous helicopters and air tankers. Reinforcements are expected to give much-needed rest to local firefighters, some of whom have been working nonstop since Wednesday, Tracy said.

“This fire is surprising a lot of people with its explosive growth,” he said. “It is kind of unparalleled.”

In Southern California, about 2,000 people were ordered to evacuate because of a fire sweeping through the Sequoia National Forest. The wind-driven blaze was fed by dried, dead plants and moving fast, eating up more than 53,000 acres in four days, Andrew Freeborn of the Kern County Fire Department said.

No fatalities have been reported in the Park and Borel fires, but some people were increasing the danger for everyone by disregarding evacuation orders, Freeborn said.

“When people are trying to ignore the orders and later call for rescue, that takes firefighters away from the task of fighting the fires,” he said. “This fire is moving at a pace and with such intensity that individuals should not be thinking they can wait until the last minute. They need to get out of the way.”

The historic mining town of Havilah and several other communities were “heavily impacted” by the fires, but it was too soon to count the burned homes, Freeborn said.

The Park Fire has destroyed at least 66 structures and damaged five others, Tracy said. Authorities initially believed 134 structures were lost, based on drone footage, but lowered the number after assessing the damage in-person, while acknowledging the figure could increase.

“Each day that number has potential to grow. Our teams obviously don’t do damage inspections when there is active fire in an area,” Tracy said.

Jerry White, 72, left his Magalia home of 50 years when authorities issued an evacuation warning. Years earlier White sustained third-degree burns and the memory of that pain made him take the warning seriously.

“I don’t want to catch fire again. It’s one of the worst pains you can endure,” White said. “I wanted to get out of dodge. Burns are bad.”

Red flag warnings were issued Monday for parts of the U.S. West, where wildfires have burned during a hot and dry summer. Fires burned across eastern Oregon and eastern Idaho, where officials were assessing damage from a group of blazes called the Gwen Fire.

These fires are moving faster and are harder to fight than those in the past. The only way to stop future wildfires from becoming so ferocious is to use smaller controlled fires, as indigenous people did for centuries, experts say. But they acknowledge that change won’t be easy.

Here are some things to know about the latest fires and why they are so savage:

Blazes scorch hundreds of square miles

The Park Fire, the largest blaze so far this year in California, stood at 544 square miles (1,409 square kilometers) as of Saturday. It ignited Wednesday when authorities said a man pushed a burning car into a gully in Chico and then calmly blended in with others fleeing the scene.

Its intensity and dramatic spread led fire officials to make unwelcome comparisons to the monstrous Camp Fire that fire burned out of control in nearby Paradise in 2018, killing 85 people and torching 11,000 homes.

Communities elsewhere in the U.S. West and Canada also were under siege Saturday from fast-moving flames. More than 110 active fires covering 2,800 square miles (7,250 square kilometers) were burning in the U.S. on Friday, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.

Natural Disasters Jun 21

FEMA's disaster relief fund will run out of money by mid-August, Mayorkas says

Fires are becoming bigger and more threatening

“Amped up” is how Jennifer Marlon, a research scientist at Yale’s School of the Environment, described the recent fires.

Marlon said there aren’t necessarily more wildfires now, but they are larger and more severe because of the warming atmosphere. “The big message is that seeing extreme wildfires is just part of a series of unnatural disasters that we are going to continue seeing because of climate change,” she said.

Ten of California’s 20 largest fires occurred in the last five years, said Benjamin Hatchett, a fire meteorologist with the Cooperative Institute for Research in the Atmosphere with Colorado State University, in Fort Collins.

And he noted that the Park Fire was in eighth place as of Saturday morning, even as it continued to spread. He blamed climate change for creating more variability in weather conditions.

“We have a lot of very, very wet years and very, very dry years,” Hatchett said. “And so we get a lot of this variability that helps to accumulate and then dry out fuels.”

Such is the case this year in California, where record-setting temperatures dried up the plant growth that sprung up during recent wetter-than-average years, Hatchett said.

“So now we really have a really good setup for having these widespread large wildfires,” Hatchett said. “And we’re starting to push the limits of firefighting resource availability.”

These fires don’t even give firefighters a chance to rest at night, said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with the University of California, Los Angeles and the National Center for Atmospheric Research.

“They’re burning with extreme intensity straight through the overnight and just continuing on into the next day,” he said. “We’re also seeing fires burning over a longer fire season than we used to.”

Forests may have trouble recovering

The fires that are burning today are sometimes so severe and hot that they transform forests into a different type of ecosystem, Swain said.

“The forest is not coming back in the same in the same way as it was in a lot of regions,” Swain said.

Part of the issue is that climate change means that there are hotter conditions as plant life returns. In some cases, trees are replaced with invasive grasses that are themselves flammable.

“So the climate change has altered the context in which these fires are occurring,” he said. “And that’s affecting not only the intensity and the severity of the fires themselves, which it clearly is at this point, but it’s also affecting the ability of ecosystems to recover afterwards.”

Snuffing out fires in the past created problems now

In parts of the country, like the Midwest, farmers use fire to control trees, woody shrubs and invasive species. But not so in the western U.S., where fires have been extinguished in their infancy for decades.

“The problem now is we’ve allowed so much fuel to build up in some of these places that the fires burn very hot and intense. And that tends to do more damage than what nature typically will do with a fire,” said Tim Brown, a research professor at the Desert Research Institute and director of the Western Regional Climate Center in Reno, Nevada.

Fires were once commonplace in the West because of lightning strikes and indigenous burning, Hatchett said. The practice stopped during colonial settlement, but it now needs to return, Hatchett said.

“That’s the only way we’re really going to get out of this, is to really accept and embrace the use of fire on our terms,” Hatchett said. “Otherwise we’re going to get fire on the fire’s terms, which is like what we’re seeing right now.”

Doing so isn’t easy because there are no longer big-open landscapes where millions of acres can burn unchecked, Swain acknowledged.

“And that’s sort of the conundrum: This is something we need to be doing more of. But the practical reality of doing so is not at all simple,” Swain said.

But he said there is no option to address the wildfire risk that doesn’t involve fire.

“We’re going to see more and more fire on the ground,” he said. “The question is whether we want to see it in the form of more manageable, primarily beneficial prescribed burns, or in these primarily harmful, huge, intense conflagrations that we’re increasingly seeing.”

As of Friday, Cal Fire reported 11 fires over 1,000 acres, including a 178,090 acre fire in Northern California and a 38,664 acre fire blazing in the Santa Barbara area. 

So far this year, there have been 4,414 wildfires, burning at least 467,136 acres — a staggering jump from the 169,516 acreage the department reported at the beginning of the month.

Here’s a look at the five fires currently burning at over 1,000 acres in Southern California.

Vista Fire: San Bernardino County

Estimated at 2,936 acres on Thursday, the Vista Fire is located at Stockton Flats by Lytle Creek.

The fire, which began on July 7, is currently at 96% containment.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

California Wildfires Jul 12

Firefighters begin to contain Vista Fire on Mt. Baldy in San Bernardino National Forest

Wildfires Jul 15

Vista Fire and Lake Fire continue to burn thousands of acres

Apache Fire: Ventura County

The Apache Fire, which started on Tuesday, is located along Maricopa Highway and Brubaker Canyon Road, south of Cuyama.

As of Thursday, Cal Fire estimated the fire at 1,552 acres. 

Since the fire began, Cal Fire has issued two evacuation orders for Apache Canyon Road and Burges Canyon/Quail Springs, in addition to two evacuation warnings for Corral Canyon and Round Spring Canyon/Castle Canyon. 

The fire’s cause is still unknown.

Lake Fire: Santa Barbara County

Estimated Thursday at 38,664 acres, the Lake Fire began on July 5. The fire is located on Santa Lucia Road near Zaca Lake. It is currently at 90% containment.

According to Cal Fire, the fire has damaged one structure, destroyed four, and has also caused seven injuries. The Lake Fire has also caused numerous road closures.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Rancho Fire: Kern County

The Rancho Fire started on July 13 and is located on Sebastian Road near Arvin.

As of Friday morning, Cal Fire reported the fire spanning 9,950 acres and 100% contained. Its cause is still unknown.

White Fire: Kern County

Also in Kern County, Cal Fire estimated the White Fire at 5,646 acres and 100% containment as of Friday morning.

The fire is located 11 miles south of Tehachapi and was caused by lighting.

According to Cal Fire, the fire has reportedly caused damage to two structures, while also destroying two more and causing one injury.