California Activates National Guard, Orders Evacuations as Line Fire Grows

On September 9, the Line Fire in San Bernardino County, California, remains a significant threat, now only 3% contained after expanding to a staggering 20,552 acres. Since the fire ignited four days ago, thousands of residents have been forced to evacuate their homes.

In response to the ongoing emergency, California Governor Gavin Newsom has activated the California National Guard to assist with firefighting efforts. The activation order allows for the deployment of 80 soldiers as hand crews, along with four UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and two C-130 cargo planes for water and fire retardant drops. Additionally, a military police company will be sent to assist local law enforcement in managing evacuated areas.

“As the Line Fire continues to pose a threat to San Bernardino communities, we’re pouring resources into this incident aggressively,” said Governor Newsom. “California stands with these communities and has their backs.”

The situation escalated dramatically on Saturday when the fire charred 7,000 acres, prompting Newsom to declare a state of emergency. The governor announced that the state has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help provide necessary resources for firefighting operations.

By Sunday, the fire’s scope had ballooned to 17,000 acres, and containment efforts were still ineffective at 0%.

The blaze first ignited in the city of Highland around 6 p.m. local time on Thursday. Since then, the number of firefighting personnel has surged from 628 to 1,708 as efforts to combat the inferno intensify. Alongside them are 195 engines, seven water tenders, 15 helicopters, and 35 bulldozers, according to Cal Fire, the state’s forestry and fire protection agency.

Currently, an alarming 35,405 structures are under threat, encompassing single-family homes, multi-family residences, commercial buildings, and smaller structures. Amazingly, no structures have reported damages at this time.

Three firefighters have sustained injuries, although there have been no reported injuries among civilians. The extreme heat adds to the challenges faced by those battling the fire, with temperatures soaring to a blistering 106 degrees on Monday.

Cal Fire Battalion Chief Brent Pascua highlighted the impact of the heat on the firefighters. “The heat affects them tremendously. They can work for a little bit, but the body just needs to take a break after a while,” he explained in comments to CBS News Los Angeles.

Additionally, the fire area has experienced over 1,100 lightning strikes, exacerbating the risk. Cal Fire reported that the vegetation remains critically dry, with hot and dry weather expected to persist. An Excessive Heat Warning is in effect for the lower elevations of the area.

Despite the oppressive heat, forecasts indicate a chance of showers and slight thunderstorms developing later in the morning through early evening. “We know that triple-digit temperatures are coming again today, so that’s why it’s so important to get that work done at night when it is cooler,” Pascua advised. “We had the water-dropping helicopters back last night, so hopefully, we’ll see that containment come up.”

As of early Monday morning, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department had enacted evacuation orders affecting over 6,000 people, with additional evacuation warnings issued for thousands more in nearby mountain communities. Officials are urging residents who may need extra time to evacuate, particularly those with pets and livestock, to leave their homes immediately.