An uncontrolled wildfire in San Bernardino County forced mandatory evacuations Saturday in the mountain communities of Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake, along with other areas.
Five hundred firefighters were using hand lines, hoses and fixed-wing aircraft to fight the Line fire, which started Thursday evening and exploded overnight as temperatures climbed to 110 degrees.
The fire doubled in size early Saturday from 3,800 acres in the city of Highland to 7,122 acres by the evening as it spread northeast toward Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake, with 0% contained. Steep terrain and lack of access impacted the ability of crews to access some areas of the fires, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said in a statement.
Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in San Bernardino County Saturday night and announced receiving federal funds to help reimburse the cost of suppressing the fire.
“I thank President Biden for his swift approval of support for the work of our firefighters and first responders battling this fire and protecting local communities,” Newsom said in a statement. “It’s critical that residents in the impacted areas remain vigilant and prepare to evacuate immediately if called for by local authorities.”
The National Weather Service Los Angeles said weather conditions were exacerbating the Line fire into a “dangerous situation.” Outflow winds from pyrocumulonimbus clouds — thunderstorms that form above sources of intense heat, such as wildfires — were pushing the flames around, the weather service said in a post on the social platform X.
A cloud of smoke from the Line fire rises over mountains Saturday in Running Springs, Calif.
(Eric Thayer / Associated Press)
“It’s burning out of control,” said David Cruz, 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 Arrowbear Lake. On Saturday, residents jammed exit routes as they scrambled to comply with mandatory evacuation orders issued by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department. Images from a live video feed posted on social media showed a long line of cars slowing moving down a single mountain lane.
“There’s a giant traffic jam,” Cruz said.
Fire crews monitor the Line fire Saturday in Highland, Calif.
(Eric Thayer / Associated Press)
Other areas under evacuation orders, which are issued when conditions are immediately dangerous and life-threatening, include:
The area from Calle Del Rio to Highway 38, including Greenspot Road North
All underdeveloped land east of Highway 330 to Summertrail Place and north of Highland Avenue
The areas of Running Springs east of Highway 330 and south of Highway 18
The area east of Orchard Road to Cloverhill Drive from Highland Avenue north to the foothills
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