The Bridge and Line Fires have scorched a combined 81,000 acres across Southern California, with over 3,000 firefighters working around the clock to contain the blazes.
The Bridge Fire, which ignited in Angeles National Forest on Sunday, rapidly expanded in size, growing over tenfold in just 24 hours. Initially covering 4,000 acres early Tuesday, the blaze surged to 46,000 acres by the evening, as reported by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). By Wednesday morning, the fire had spread to nearly 48,000 acres with no containment reported. Homes have been lost, and San Bernardino County declared an emergency, noting significant destruction.
Fire crews battled the flames as evacuations were ordered in areas north of the San Antonio Dam, including Wrightwood and Mount Baldy. Evacuation warnings remain in effect for other nearby communities.
The region’s intense heatwave, which brought triple-digit temperatures and dry conditions, has worsened the situation. The National Weather Service issued red flag warnings for the Los Angeles County interior mountains, cautioning about the possibility of rapid fire spread due to gusty winds and low humidity.
The Line Fire, which ignited in Highland on Sept. 5, has held at approximately 34,000 acres as of Wednesday morning, with containment still at 14%. Fire activity has been somewhat mitigated by smoke cover and cooler weather. However, winds and dry conditions could lead to further spread, particularly on the fire’s northern and eastern fronts, where steep terrain and dense vegetation continue to fuel the flames.
More than 3,000 firefighters are working to control the Line Fire.
Power shutoffs have been implemented along one of the main supply lines to Big Bear Valley, with potential evacuation zones impacted by electrical interruptions. Officials warned of possible power outages due to increased demand on the grid.
Despite ongoing challenges, including limited firefighting resources, crews continue to focus on protecting 65,600 threatened structures. A damage inspection team is working to assess potential losses as fire suppression efforts continue.
Stay tuned for more updates as conditions evolve.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency and mobilized nearly 6,000 firefighters to combat the growing number of wildfires across the state, with resources being stretched thin due to the multiple ongoing blazes.