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By Miriam Raftery
Photo,left via UCSD Wren Camera: Hellscape atop Santiago Peak in Orange County, where the Airport Fire destroyed communications towers.
September 10, 2024 (San Diego) – Several major wildfires have burned tens of thousand of acres, collectively threatening thousands of homes across southern California including San Bernadino, Riverside, Orange and Los Angeles Counties.
Although the Roblar Fire on Camp Pendleton has charred 1,000 acres on Camp Pendleton and an unnamed fire is burning two miles south of the international border near Boulevard, none of these fires currently pose threats to lives or property in San Diego County, according to Cal Fire. However, drifting smoke from fires to the north has resulted in ash on vehicles and air quality concerns in North County.
Line Fire
Photo, right: #Line Fire viewed from Snow Valley ski slopes near Big Bear.
The most severe wildfire currently is the #LineFire, which has burned 26,516 acres in San Bernadino County since starting Sept. 5 and is threatening 65,600 structures, according to Cal Fire. This includes 9,200 homes under evacuation orders and 56,400 structures under evacuation warnings; damage inspectors are working to assess losses. Areas facing evacuation include ski and resort areas in Big Bear and Lake Arrowhead as well as other nearby communities The fire is 5% contained.
Governor Gavin Newsom has issued an emergency declaration, deploying the California National Guard to assist with Black Hawk helicopters, fixed wing aircraft and 80 soldiers to assist in fighting the flames. FEMA has authorized emergency federal resources to aid in battling the blaze. Cause of the fire remains under investigation.
This fire is so extreme that it has produced its own storm system, sparking numerous lighting strikes. Road closures include highways 18, 38 and 330. Schools have closed across this mountain region.
Airport Fire
The #AirportFire is burning in both Orange and Riverside Counties. It started yesterday afternoon in Trabuco Canyon and has burned 9,331 acres as of this afternoon, with 0% containment. ABC news reports that the fire was started by public works crews performing fire safety work, ironically.
Evacuation orders have been issued for thousands in the Rancho Santa Margarita area and foothills of the Santan Ana Mountains, among other areas, though currently flames are traveling away from homes and toward the burn scar from the 2018 Holy Fire, which may help slow the spread.
Two firefighters have been treated for heat-related injuries and one civilian was hospitalized due to smoke inhalation; all are expected to recover, CBS news reports.
Lake Elsinore Unified School District closed all campuses today due to heavy smoke
Bridge Fire
The #BridgeFire began Sunday in Angeles National Forest. It has scorched 4,177 acres as of today. Officials shut down highway 39 and ordered all forest visitors to evacuate. Evacuation orders have also been issued for East Fork communities of Camp Williams Resort (café, mobile home park, campground), the adjacent river community per Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, and the Baldy Village area from the dam to Mt. Baldy Resort
.Thus far, no structures have been loss and no injuries are reported in the Bridge Fire.
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