Line Fire
A fast-moving wildfire in Southern California exploded over the weekend, scorching more than 20,500 acres by late Sunday and sending hundreds of residents fleeing as temperatures soared into triple digits.
Authorities said the fire was 0% contained as it neared its first full day of burning at just after 9 p.m. Sunday.
The wind-whipped blaze in San Bernardino County erupted late last week and ballooned fourfold over the weekend, consuming thousands of acres on Saturday alone.
Rushing up steep canyons, the flames consumed dense forest on their way toward Running Springs — a mountain village of some 5,000 people sandwiched between Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear Lake resort areas.
The community is surrounded by mandatory evacuation and Lake Arrowhead, to the west of it, is under an evacuation warning.
Evacuation orders are also in place south of the fire and structures could be threatened to the south near San Bernardino County’s city of Highland, at the base of far western end mountains.
Cal Fire incident updates state that three firefighters were injured fighting the fire as of Sunday afternoon. The update read, “Hot and dry conditions combined with thunderstorms are anticipated to make firefighting difficult over the next couple of days.
Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for the county to secure federal assistance as well, noting that more than 35,000 homes and critical infrastructure were in again threatened by fire.
The fire is now ‘out of room to grow in many directions and there are population centers and pretty dense, dry vegetation in between those population centers that pose a significant risk over the next couple days,” he said during a Saturday briefing.
The fire was first sparked Thursday and had grown to about 3,800 acres as of Saturday morning before exploding in the afternoon. — a thunderstorm produced by the smoke plume of its own fire, complete with lightning, gusting winds and even null rain.
Latest Update
Meanwhile, the Line Fire in San Bernardino County had ballooned to more than 17,400 acres Friday night with mandatory evacuations issued across a wide swath of desert where fire officials said more than 35,000 structures — including homes and businesses — were at risk.
The fire was ignited on September 5 and has burned with zero containment and through difficult weather conditions such as dry vegetation, high temperatures, and variable winds.
The fire prompted Gov. Gavin Newsom to declare a state of emergency, unlocking additional resources and the possibility for federal help.
The evacuation orders have also grown to include portions of Running Springs, Arrow Bear Lake and some neighborhoods in the city of Highland. While the fire continues to expand, residents are asked stay vigilant and follow recommendations from local authorities.
So far, three firefighters have been injured fighting the blaze. Evacuation centers are open, and residents should stay tuned to air quality warnings from the smoke.
