Cooler Weather Slows the Growth of Wildfires

On Thursday, as hundreds of firefighters worked tirelessly to control a significant wildfire in the steep mountains north of Los Angeles, cooler weather brought a welcomed change that aided their efforts. The ongoing fire, known as the Bridge Fire, is raging within the Sheep Mountain Wilderness area of the Angeles National Forest.

Fire officials reported minimal growth of the fire thanks to a decrease in winds and an increase in humidity. Despite these favorable conditions, the fire remained at zero percent containment by late Thursday afternoon. The inferno has scorched approximately 51,580 acres, spanning across both Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.

With around 480 personnel on the ground, firefighting teams are aggressively tackling the blaze, supported by aircraft conducting aerial attacks around the clock, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Despite this, the Bridge Fire remains the largest among several active wildfires in Southern California.

Overall, the three largest fires in Southern California are impacting more than 110,000 acres and threatening tens of thousands of structures. The Line Fire in San Bernardino County is currently measured at 37,207 acres, with 21% containment. By early Friday, this fire had destroyed or damaged at least four structures, putting around 65,000 others at risk.

Meanwhile, the Airport Fire, which affects areas across Orange and Riverside counties, has burned approximately 23,453 acres but is only 5% contained at this time.

In response to the escalating situation, officials in San Bernardino County issued additional evacuation orders late on Thursday. The evacuation zone was expanded in the vicinity of The Baldy Village, encompassing several neighborhoods stretching from San Antonio Heights to Wrightwood and east toward Cucamonga Peak.

Weather forecasts indicate that temperatures in Los Angeles are expected to peak around 78 degrees Fahrenheit on Friday and Saturday, before a trend of cooler temperatures takes place next week, as per the National Weather Service.