An out-of-control wildfire burning in San Bernardino County doubled overnight, growing from 7,122 acres to nearly 17,500 acres Sunday morning. The fire prompted mandatory evacuations in mountain communities including Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake on Saturday, and evacuation warnings were in place Sunday for people in Lake Arrowhead, Cedar Glen, Crestline and Valley of Enchantment.
More than 35,400 buildings are threatened by the fire, which is not even 0% contained. Three firefighters are injured; more than 600 people are deployed to control the blaze.
Thunderstorms and lightning suspended air service on Saturday and could do the same on Sunday, limiting firefighters’ ability to put fire extinguishers and water on the fire, said Dave Munyan, a National Weather Service meteorologist with the San Diego office. As of 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 282 lightning strikes had been recorded in Highland and Big Bear, while another 3,337 lightning strikes remained in the clouds, the NWS said.
“Because they’re trying to fight the fire on some pretty steep slopes, it’s nearly impossible for them to do a ground attack,” Munyan said.
Wind speeds are expected to be 15 to 20 mph on Sunday, and an excessive heat warning has been issued for the day. Temperatures are expected to range between 80 and 100 degrees.
“The weather today is definitely not favorable (for firefighters),” Munyan said.
The heat wave bearing down on the Southland was not expected to end until Tuesday, while excessive heat warnings were in effect until Monday night. Red flag warnings were issued for Los Angeles County and surrounding areas as temperatures were expected to exceed 100 degrees in some parts. The combination of high heat and humidity brought the chance of thunderstorms across the mountains of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Ventura counties and the Antelope and San Gabriel valleys.
On Saturday, firefighters were using hand lines, hoses and fixed-wing aircraft to control the blaze, which started on Thursday evening and grew rapidly overnight. The temperature reached 110 degrees,
The fire grew from 3,800 acres in the town of Highland Saturday morning to 7,122 acres by evening and spread northeast across the San Bernardino Mountains toward Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake.
Governor Gavin Newsom State of emergency declared A fire suppression drive was launched in San Bernardino County Saturday night and it was announced that federal funds would help reimburse the cost of fighting the blaze.
“I thank President Biden for his swift acceptance of support for the work of our firefighters and first responders fighting this fire and protecting local communities,” Newsom said in a statement. “It is critical that residents of affected areas remain vigilant and be prepared to evacuate immediately if called upon by local authorities.”
The National Weather Service Los Angeles said Saturday that weather conditions were making the Line Fire even more dangerous. In a post on the social platform X, the weather service said winds from pyrocumulonimbus clouds — which are storms that form above sources of intense heat such as wildfires — were pushing the flames around.
Orange County firefighters use chainsaws to help remove a burned tree branch that fell on Highway 330 during the Line Fire on September 8, 2024 in Highland, California.
(Gina Ferrazzi / Los Angeles Times)
“It’s getting out of control,” said David Cruz, a spokesman for the San Bernardino National Forest.
Running Springs, a community of about 4,600 residents, is a major gateway to the popular tourist destinations of Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear. About 735 people live in Lake Arrowhead. On Saturday, residents jammed exit routes to comply with mandatory evacuation orders issued by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Photos of a live video feed posted on social media showed a long line of cars slowly moving down a hilly gully.
“There’s a huge traffic jam,” Cruz said.
The so-called front route to Big Bear Lake — Highway 330 from Highland to Running Springs, and Highway 18 between Running Springs and the Big Bear Lake dam — is closed. The two back routes, Highway 18 from Victorville and Highway 38 from Redlands, are open.
Firefighters monitor a line fire on September 7, 2024 in Highland, California.
(Eric Thayer/Associated Press)
Other areas under evacuation orders, which are issued when conditions become immediately dangerous and life-threatening, include:
- Area 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.
- Areas of Running Springs east of Highway 330 and south of Highway 18.
- The area east from Orchard Road to Cloverhill Drive, with Highland Avenue north to the foot of the hill.
