Single Publication

Unified Command: CIIMT5, Los Angeles County Fire, Los Angeles County Sheriff, San Bernardino County Fire, CAL FIRE – San Bernardino/Inyo/Mono Unit

Location: Sheep Mountain Wilderness, Northeast of Glendora, CA

Fire Size: 47,904 acres

Percent Contained: 0% 

Personnel: 471

Cause: Under investigation

Start Date: Sunday, September 8, 2024, at 2:12 p.m.
 

CURRENT SITUATION: Last night, the Bridge Fire continued to exhibit extreme fire behavior as it increased over 13,000 acres mainly on the north and east flanks. The top priority for firefighters remained in structure protection and defense within the communities of Wrightwood, Pinon Hills and Mount Baldy. 

Numerous structures in the Wrightwood area have been impacted by the fire, with damage to power infrastructure reported. Once it is safe for damage assessment teams to evaluate, confirmed numbers will be released. Mountain High West and East Ski Resort were also affected by fire activity.

On the south end, the fire jumped Glendora Ridge Road up to Sunset Peak, which was highly visible at night from the inland cities below.

Despite the extreme fire behavior, lack of resources, and challenges firefighters had, they successfully defended homes, and no communication towers went down. Firefighters held the lines they had west of Mount Baldy Road, and they continued to prioritize securing contingency lines to the south. By the public heeding evacuations, firefighters were able to get in and engage in the structure defense they needed to.

As the fire continues to head into receptive fuels with little to no fire history, it could get established into drainages and have slope alignment, leading to the potential for large energy release that could create plume-driven fire behavior and column collapses which may send spot fires out ahead of the fire’s direction.

There have been no changes in evacuations since last night.

 Evacuation Orders:

• Pinion Hills from Wrightwood north to Highway 18 and Beekley Road west to LA County.
• Lone Pine Canyon from the community of Wrightwood to Hwy 138/Lone Pine Canyon Road south to the forest.
• Entire community of Wrightwood.
• East Fork communities of Camp Williams Resort (café, mobile home park, campground) and River Community (near the resort). 
• Mt. Baldy Road, all residents north of the San Antonio Dam up to the Mt. Baldy Resort.

  Evacuation warnings: 

• San Antonio Heights and Upland from the foothills south to 23rd Street.
• Pinion Hills from Wrightwood north to Highway 138 and Lebec Road west to Los Angeles County.

  Evacuation Centers:

• San Bernardino County Fairgrounds: 14800 Seventh Street, Victorville, CA 92392
• Jessie Turner Health and Fitness Community Center: 15556 Summit Ave, Fontana, CA 92336. Call (909) 854-5100
• Pomona Fairplex: 601 W McKinley Avenue 
Pomona, CA 91768 (Enter Gate 3, corner of McKinley and White)
• Animals: 
  • Devore Animal Shelter: 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino, CA 92407. Call (909) 386-9820, or after hours: (800) 472-5609
  • Palmdale Animal Care Center (Small Animals): 38550 Sierra Hwy, Palmdale, CA 93550
  • Lancaster Animal Care Center (Small Animals): 5210 W Ave I, Lancaster, CA 93536
  • Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (Large Animals): 2551 W Avenue H, Lancaster, CA 93536. Call 562-706-8581 prior to arrival.

For more information on shelters, visit:

• www.redcross.org/get-help/disaster-relief-and-recovery-services/find-an-open-shelter.html
• https://lacounty.gov/emergency/

CLOSURES: 

• SR-138 from Lone Pine Canyon Road to Beekley Road
• SR-2 closed from Big Pines to SR-138.
• San Gabriel Canyon and East Fork of the San Gabriel River
• Highway 39
• East Fork Road
• Glendora Ridge Road
• Glendora Mountain Road
• Mt. Baldy Road at Shinn Road intersection 
   

WEATHER: 

With the massive expansion in acreage of this fire, there are now three forecast zones for weather effects on fire behavior. An excessive heat and Red Flag warning will continue until 12 p.m. today. 

On the south end of the fire, temperatures will be high, however humidity will improve and increase from 15 to 30 percent with a coastal influence. Winds will switch from west to the northwest at the higher elevations, gusting from 15-25 mph.

On the southeast corner of the fire, the northwest winds will test containment efforts.

To the north in the valley floor and desert areas, higher temperatures and lower humidity is expected as winds will push easterly in the afternoon.

Large vertical plume growth and visible smoke columns will be expected again today for this fire. For information on smoke impacts and an interactive map, visit fire.airnow.gov.