The Bridge Fire in Southern California exponentially exploded over 10 times in size in a matter of 24 hours, as firefighters grappled with two other major fires in the region and a man was arrested in connection with setting off one of the infernos.
The Bridge Fire, which sparked Sunday in Angeles National Forest, exhibited “extreme fire behavior,” jumping in size from 4,000 acres early Tuesday to 46,000 acres by evening, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). The blaze expanded from Los Angeles County into San Bernardino County.
As of Wednesday morning it is the largest wildfire in the state, spanning nearly 48,000 acres and is 0% contained.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
In an update Wednesday afternoon, officials said 20 homes were destroyed in the Mount Baldy area, and 13 in the Wrightwood area, as well as six cabins in the wilderness. There have been no reports of significant injuries or deaths.
San Bernardino County proclaimed an emergency due to the blaze.
Video by the San Bernardino County Fire Department showed firefighters and deputies performing rescue evacuations in Wrightwood on Tuesday evening as flames consumed brush and trees.
Evacuation orders have put in place for all residents north of the San Antonio Dam up to the Mount Baldy Resort, the community of Wrightwood, East Fork communities and the River Community, as well as others. Evacuation warnings are also in place.
The Bridge Fire is one of three major fires in southern California — along with the Line Fire and the Airport Fire — which sparked amid an intense heatwave that brought triple digit temperatures and dry conditions to the region.
Red flag warnings, meaning conditions are ripe for wildfire spread, are in place through noon Wednesday over the interior mountains and foothills of Los Angeles County for dry conditions with gusty southwest winds and low humidity.
“If fire ignition occurs, conditions are favorable for rapid fire spread and extreme fire behavior which would threaten life and property,” the National Weather Service warned.
Line Fire
Officials said Tuesday a man was arrested, accused of sparking the Line Fire that is burning in the foothills of the San Bernardino National Forest, east of Los Angeles, and now spans over 34,600 acres at 14% containment.
Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, from Norco, allegedly started the fire in the area of Baseline Road and Alpin Street in the city of Highland on Sept. 5, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office said.
He was booked Tuesday at the Central Detention Center on a charge of Arson, held on $80,000 bail.
Officials said in a press conference Wednesday that an automatic license plate reader flagged his vehicle near the area where the fire started and led investigators to look into him. Officials said Halstenberg works for Fedex as a third contract delivery driver.
A search warrant conducted Tuesday at the suspect’s residence and in his car led to the discovery of evidence “that supported his arrest,” Jacob Hernandez with the San Marin County Sheriffs Department, said.
“It’s my belief that as time goes on and we allow (investigators) to do the critical work that they’re doing, that we will actually find out this suspect may have been responsible for other fires,” San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said.
He said investigators believe Halstenberg set the Bridge Fire intentionally, but did not disclose how, saying, “that will be one of those pieces of evidence that does allow us to connect it to multiple fires.”
The blaze, which started Sept. 5, has continued to grow in steep terrain described as difficult to access and has impacted “key radio towers on Keller Peak,” hampering major communication channels used to response to the incident, CalFire’s unit that covers San Bernardino County said.
Fire officials say public safety power shutoffs are anticipated for parts of Big Bear and Bear Valleys.
Some 65,600 structures are threatened by the fire. Evacuation orders are in place for the communities of Running Springs, Arrowbear Lake, Forrest Falls, Mountain Home Village, and parts of Big Bear, along with more evacuation warnings.
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency due to the Line Fire on Saturday, and the said the state’s National Guard will support the fire response.
Airport Fire
Meanwhile, in Orange County, the Airport Fire now stands at over 22,000 acres, according to latest CalFire numbers. It had sparked Monday afternoon as a 7-acre brush fire in Orange County’s Trabuco Canyon, south of Los Angeles.
As of Tuesday night, the Orange County Fire Authority reported 0% containment and so far reported no damage to homes or structures.
The blaze was initially reported near an airfield that hobbyists use for remote-controlled planes. On its website, a local flying club called Trabuco Flyers said no remote-controlled aircraft were flying when the fire started.
“The cause of the fire as we announced yesterday is accidental, unintentional, by heavy equipment working in the area of the RC Airport,” OCFA Captain Paul Holaday said in a news conference Tuesday.
Evacuation orders and warnings are in place.
“One of the challenges we’re having is competition with other fires in California,” Brian Fennessey Fire Chief said Tuesday, citing the Bridge and Lines fires. “All of these fires are drawing down on the limited resources available to us.”
On Tuesday, Newsom’s office said it mobilized nearly 6,000 boots on the ground and hundreds of engines, 51 helicopters and 141 water tankers as the state fights 16 active wildfires.
Davis Fire
In neighboring Nevada, the Davis Fire has also wreaked havoc, including near Big Bear, already lashed by the Line Fire. It spanned over 5,800 acres as of Wednesday morning and was 31% contained.
The U.S. Forest Service of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest warned “extreme fire conditions” are anticipated Wednesday due to high winds “which could lead to rapid fire growth.” The National Weather Service issued a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” red flag warning from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT for the Sierra Front, including the area of the fire.
