Firefighters Gain Ground Against Southern California Wildfires in Cool Weather

Cooler weather in Southern California has aided over 8,600 emergency personnel as they work to secure containment lines around three significant wildfires that have devastated large areas, forced evacuations, and destroyed numerous structures since they ignited.

As of Sunday, the largest fire, known as the Bridge Fire, has engulfed over 54,000 acres spanning Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) reports that since the fire started on September 8, it has destroyed at least 49 buildings while posing a threat to more than 12,000 others.

Firefighters have made noteworthy progress overnight, according to the U.S. Forest Service. By Sunday morning, the Bridge Fire was reported to be 9% contained, with over 2,600 firefighters actively engaged in combatting the blaze.

In a statement, the U.S. Forest Service noted, “Last night, firefighters continued establishing and strengthening direct containment lines while constructing secondary contingency lines with dozers and hand crews throughout the fire area. We faced challenges, as helicopters could not operate due to smoke inversions that limited visibility. Nonetheless, we achieved a 4% increase in containment on the fire’s southern flank.”

While evacuation warnings and orders were relaxed in some locations, residents of San Antonio Heights were allowed to return home, as stated by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office. However, evacuation orders remain in effect for other regions, including East Fork communities, Mt. Baldy Road, the area from Highway 138 south to the northern border of San Antonio Heights, and the Wrightwood community, according to Cal Fire.

Authorities also mentioned that only two firefighters have sustained injuries, and the cause of the Bridge Fire is still under investigation.

Simultaneously, there were over 6,000 emergency personnel dedicated to combating two other fires in San Bernardino, Orange, and Riverside counties.

The second active fire, known as the Line Fire, is burning more than 38,000 acres in San Bernardino County. As of Sunday afternoon, Cal Fire reported that containment had improved from 29% to 36%, thanks to the efforts of over 4,100 firefighters.

Beginning on September 5, this blaze has threatened approximately 36,300 structures, resulting in the destruction of at least one and damage to three others. As of now, three firefighters have sustained injuries.

In relation to the Line Fire, officials have charged a Norco resident, Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, with multiple counts including aggravated arson and arson causing great bodily injury.

Cal Fire provided an update, indicating that the Line Fire was still active early Sunday due to a dry airmass present in the higher elevations. “The fire smoldered and crept along the ground in lower elevations under the marine layer. Cooler conditions prevailed across the fire area, and light rain is possible late Sunday into Monday,” they stated. “Firefighters are working on strengthening control lines and mopping up hot spots.”

Evacuation orders remain in place for certain areas, specifically all undeveloped land east of Highway 330. All national forest lands, trails, and roads within that region of the San Bernardino National Forest, including the San Gorgonio Wilderness, are closed to the public.

The Airport Fire, which began on September 9, has engulfed over 23,000 acres in Orange and Riverside counties. As of Sunday morning, nearly 2,000 fire personnel reported containment efforts increased from 9% to 19%.

To date, this wildfire has led to the destruction of at least 152 structures and damaged 31 more, with a total of 14 reported injuries, including 12 firefighters and two civilians. Ongoing investigations suggest the fire may have been accidentally ignited by an Orange County Public Works crew using heavy equipment.

Cal Fire noted favorable weather conditions, including thick fog, high humidity, light rain, and cooler temperatures for firefighting efforts in the coming days. “Though we are experiencing favorable weather with cooler temperatures, drizzle, and light showers, Modjeska Peak remains dry, posing a risk of surface fires above 4,000 feet,” they added, expressing concern over smoldering vegetation potentially rolling downhill to ignite unburned areas.

Additionally, multiple zones in Orange and Riverside counties remain under evacuation orders, including Caspers Regional Park, San Juan Springs, and the Blue Jay campground.

Thanks to a low-pressure system moving into the area, the National Weather Service forecasts cooler temperatures, which have provided relief during this challenging situation. They predict a noticeably cooler and wet Monday, with a chance of light rain from the coast to the mountains. “Monday will likely be the coolest day in some areas since early June, with highs only reaching the upper 60s to lower 70s west of the mountains, and remaining in the 80s in the lower deserts,” they reported.

Source: USA Today