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

Incident Website: 

inciweb.wildfire.gov/incident-information/caanf-bridge-fire

Fire Information: (626) 662-0120

Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Email: 2024.Bridge@firenet.gov 

Fire Size: 49,075 acres

Percent Contained: 0% 

Personnel: 408

Cause: Under investigation

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

Location: Sheep Mountain Wilderness, Angeles National Forest

CURRENT SITUATION: Today the Bridge Fire was still active, however, the behavior moderated significantly due to the slight increase in humidity and decrease in temperatures. Firefighters were able to make great progress on the ground aided by aircraft to attack the fire aggressively 24-hours per day. Crews continued to be engaged with structure defense in the communities of Wrightwood, Piñon Hills, and Mount Baldy. The ability for crews to also extinguish new fire starts in the vicinity of the Bridge Fire is also a good sign and testament to their success and hard work. 

The north side of the fire remained the most active. However, more favorable weather conditions aided firefighters in gaining the upper hand on holding the fire on the south side of Highway 2. Top priorities for firefighters remained in structure protection and defense of the communities nearby with dozer line construction and pre-treating containment lines with fire retardant.

On the east side, firefighters were able to directly engage as the fire behaved favorably, backing and flanking slowly down to Mount Baldy Road. Firefighters continue to hold the fire on the west side of this road and continue structure protection efforts in the communities of Mount Baldy Village, including the Icehouse Canyon area.

To the south, firefighters were successful in reinforcing containment lines and scouted to reopen old dozer lines for contingency planning. Front-country communities currently under an evacuation warning will see dozers and fire personnel working on the south flank of the fire to construct these contingency lines and protect the communities below it. A five-acre spot fire near Sunset Peak was also successfully suppressed with direct attack.

On the west side of the fire, containment lines are holding and firefighters are engaged in mop up, checking the area for hotspots and extinguishing them. There is minimal growth and moderated fire behavior in this area.

  Evacuation Orders:

• Highway 138 south to Lone Pine Canyon and Highway 2 east to Lone Pine Canyon Road.
• Piñon Hills from Wrightwood north to Highway 18 and Beekley Road west to Los Angeles County.
• Lone Pine Canyon from the community of Wrightwood to Highway 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: 

• The area of Phelan from Highway 138 east to Baldy Mesa Road and Phelan Road south to Sayle Road.
• San Antonio Heights and Upland from the foothills south to 23rd Street.
• Piñon 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 Highway, 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/
• If not already registered for emergency alerts, please register for them here:
  • https://ready.lacounty.gov/emergency-notifications/  
  • https://wp.sbcounty.gov/sheriff/alerts/
    
     

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: 

Red Flag Warning highlighting imminent critical fire weather patterns was extended until 10:00 a.m. tomorrow, however, conditions should improve thereafter. There will be increased stability in weather with lower temperatures and higher humidity, allowing firefighters to make good progress on their suppression efforts.

Exposed ridges at higher elevations will have higher wind speeds than the lower valley and canyon areas, which is where active fire behavior and higher flame lengths will continue to be most visible.

For information on smoke impacts and an interactive map, visit fire.airnow.gov.

Rain and Cooler Weather Helps Crews Make Progress 

SPRAY, Ore. – Showers and cooler weather over the fires helped slow growth and allowed crews to make progress around the fires.  The northwest to north side of the fire now has direct line and mop up operations have started. On the southwest side along ORE 19, crews will be focusing on removing hazard trees to allow mop up, which will allow opening of the highway.  

The community meeting in Fossil was attended by over 40 people. ODF Incident Commander Matt Howard, along with ODF Operations, ODF John Day Unit, Oregon State Fire Marshall and the Wheeler County Fire Defense Board Chief addressed the attendees and answered questions.

The Wheeler County Sheriff’s Office continually evaluates evacuation levels. Please check their Facebook page for the latest information. https://www.facebook.com/WheelerCountySheriffsOffice/

The Two Cabin, Holmes, Kinzua and Canyon Fires are all in patrol status.  

Community Meeting: 

Spray: Due to the closure of ORE19, a public meeting in Spray is planned for Thursday 12th at The Rock, 601 Willow St. at 6:30 PM.

Flying unauthorized drones is hazardous to aircraft and will ground critical aerial operations.

FIRE AT A GLANCE

Fossil Complex

Total Size:  22,439 acres          

Two Cabin-251acres

Canyon-190 acres

Kinzua-96 acres

Holmes-15 acres

Service- 21,887

Containment:  3% 

Cause:  Lightning

Current Cost: $9.8 M

All Resources 

Hand Crews: 40

Engines: 58

Water Tender: 16

Dozers:  20

Skidders: 7

Skidgen: 3

Excavator: 2

Masticator: 2

Feller Buncher: 4

Total Resources: 1,255

Aerial Resources

Type 1: 3

Type 2: 6

Type 3: 4

Evacuations: 

Level 1: 21 addresses

Level 2: 85 addresses

Level 3: 156 addresses

https://www.facebook.com/WheelerCountySheriffsOffice/

ODF Incident Commander:

Matt Howard, Incident Commander
Incident Management Team 2

An emergency area closure has been put in place for the safety of the public and firefighters suppressing the Davis Fire in southwest Reno, Nevada. All road, trails, develop recreation sites within this area are closed. The closure boundary runs along the Hunter Creek Trail to the north, Nevada State Route 877 (Franktown Road) to the south, the Forest’s boundary to the east, and U.S. Interstate 580 to the west. This encompasses portion of the Mt Rose Wilderness including part of the Tahoe Rim Trail.

Incident Commander: Chris Hericks
Location: Southwest of Branham Lakes Campground
Start Date: 09/04/2024
Cause: Lightning
Size: estimated at 152 acres
Resources on Site: 3 Initial Attack Modules
Total Personnel: 14

The Pedro Mine Fire, located nine miles east of Sheridan in the Mill Creek area, is burning in steep, rocky terrain with little to no access for firefighters. The area contains a large concentration of standing dead trees (“snags”) that pose challenges to ensuring firefighter safety and in responding to potential medical emergencies, jeopardizing the well-being of firefighters and other responders.

Fire managers from the Forest, working in collaboration with local Madison County officials have identified and prioritized critical values at risk in the fire area. Firefighting efforts will focus available resources on the protection of structures on private inholdings, active mining claims, and Branham Lakes Campground. All these values are approximately .1-.6 miles from the fire.

There are several factors involved in making wildfire management decisions. These factors include, firefighter safety, resource availability and threats to public safety and property. As well as, terrain, fire behavior, fire season outlook and modeling, and past prescribed fire units and vegetation management projects in the area.

 Fire managers are strategic in their approach and continually reassess conditions and alter management strategies to protect critical values.

CURRENT STATUS/PLANNED ACTIONS:
Crews completed the firing operation to protect the infrastructure and vegetation in and around Branham Lakes Campground. This burned area also provides a place of refuge for recreationists and first responders for fires in the future. The cabin closest to the fire continued to have sprinklers operated around it all day. The barricade remains in place at the intersection of Mill Creek Road (FS RD 111) and the Middle Fork Mill Creek Road (FS RD 7313) to limit public access into the fire area and Branham Lakes Campground. An overnight mapping mission using infrared has been ordered again for tonight. One of the Initial Attack Modules was released home at the end of shift.

Tomorrow’s actions will be weather dependent. If forecasted weather materializes then crews will most likely check the fire in the morning and focus the rest of the day on rehabbing gear and equipment. If little moisture is received, then crews will continue to mop-up and secure fire near the cabin and the campground, remove snags in the fire area, and continue to monitor fire spread. If significant moisture is received then the evening update for Thursday, September 12 will be the last one issued unless fire activity returns later this fall.

These actions are designed to allow fire personnel to protect the identified values at risk while operating in areas that have much better access and egress to safety.

Agency representatives continue to compile contact information for affected landowners immediately adjacent to the fire area.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:
Today was the last dry, warm, and windy day for the foreseeable future. The system arriving has approximately 0.6-1.2” of rain forecasted through Friday with snow levels dropping to 7,000’. As most of the fire area is above 8,500’ measurable snow could cover the entire fire by Friday morning. If this forecast plays out it will be considered at least a season-moderating event and may be a season ending event for the fire area.

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS:
The Forest is in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. Campfires are allowed only in a permanent metal fire grate/ring provided by the Forest Service in a designated, developed recreation site. Smoking is restricted to vehicles, in buildings, or in an area clear of flammable materials. Devices with an on/off switch that use LPG fuels are allowed in an area clear of flammable materials within 3 feet of the device.

Huckleberry Ridge Fire

Daily Update
September 11, 2024
Reported: September 4th at 3:45 p.m. | Size: 301 | Cause: Under investigation
Total Personnel: 408| Engines/Tenders:23 | Hand Crews: 13

The Huckleberry Ridge Fire continues to burn eight miles from the nearest structure and eleven miles from the nearest community. No Infrastructure are at risk at this time.

Update:  Containment is shown at 32% today and will slowly be increasing as the days go on while mop-up is done along containment lines.  A helicopter sling load mission was accomplished to fly in pumps, fuel, hose, sprinklers and other supplies to an area surrounding the spot fire located north of the main fire to aid in containment efforts. Overall burned acreage has increased by 3 acres due to more accurate mapping of fire perimeter as precise GPS mapping occurs on the ground. 

Safety: Hunting Season continues so please be aware there are both firefighters and hunters in the woods right now. Use cation and stay vigilant. For anyone hunting, please stay out of the fire area and be aware there is substantial firefighting activity in the area with a lot of vehicle traffic.

Evacuations/Closures: There are no anticipated evacuations or road closures in the future for this fire, but we continue to ask that the community stay out of the area of the fire, be alert, and stay aware of the danger that exists in your area.

Weather: Onshore flow continues for at least the next several days. A front came in with widespread rain showers Tuesday night and into Wednesday bring ¾ “ of rain to the area, then showers decrease later today. These is a slight chance of thunderstorms through Wednesday evening. 

Air Space Restrictions: We continue to have a Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR) is in place over the fire. If you fly, We can’t.

Click the link to watch video of Fuels Battalion Scott Outland explaining the fuels program of the Lassen National Forest and its effects relative to the Park Fire.

Middle Fork Complex crews are assisting local resources with two new starts in the Garden Valley area. One of the two starts is the Cross Fire, and is located near Coski Creek, south of Garden Valley. A helicopter assessed the second start from the air and personnel are working to access it from the ground and confirm the location. It is west of Crouch.

New Start in the Middle Fork Complex Area September 11, 2024

Wed, 09/11/2024 - 18:41

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New Start in the Middle Fork Complex Area September 11, 2024

Middle Fork Complex crews are assisting local resources with two new starts in the Garden Valley area. 

View of a new start from the Middle Fork Complex in Garden Valley, Idaho, September 11, 2024.

 

Wood Lake Fire Fact Sheet

Date: September 11, 2024             11:00 AM

Fire Information and Location: On Tuesday, September 10, 2024, around 11:00 a.m. a fire was detected on an island of Wood Lake, which is located north of County Road 18, within the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) of the Superior National Forest (NF). The fire is located in Township 64, Range 10, Section 26 on National Forest System Lands.

Description: The fire is approximately 3-5 acres and is burning in timber with a heavy, dead balsam fir component. It is suspected to be human caused; however, an official fire investigation has not occurred yet. Initial aircraft fire size up showed the fire creeping, smoldering, and burning in deep duff. The fire spotted off the island to a ridgetop and began to torch and exhibit active fire behavior. The fire area and surrounding landscape has thick vegetation and a significant amount of spruce budworm infested balsam fir.

Current Status and Resources: As of this morning, the fire was creeping, smoldering, and holding in place due to good overnight relative humidity levels and light to no winds. Above average temperatures and drought conditions continue across the Superior National Forest and fire area. Increased winds are expected for the Thursday- Friday. 

The Superior National Forest is utilizing aircraft to cool the fire and initiate suppression actions with the highest likelihood of success. Firefighters are working on full suppression tactics; however, ground conditions and access are difficult. Additional aircraft have been ordered to assist with the fire as they become available. Wildfire smoke from Canada is also present in the area. The National Preparedness Level is current at 5-or the highest level; thus, firefighting suppression resources are limited. 

Closures and further information: Due to safety concerns, BWCAW Entry Point #26 permittees have been contacted. This is an ever-changing event, and we ask the traveling public to stay away from the area and seek alternate routes. To stay up to date, please sign up for Superior NF Fire Information notices and news. For the safety of firefighting resources, no drones are allowed near the fire area. 

Incident Commander: David Mcfee
Location: 16 miles northwest of Philipsburg, MT
Start Date: 8/26/2024
Cause: Undetermined
Size: estimated at 425 acres
Resources on Site: 1 crew; 2 engines; 1 helicopter; miscellaneous heavy equipment
Total Personnel: 38

The McDermott Fire, located in the Upper Willow Creek area, is burning in an inaccessible area containing a large concentration of standing dead trees (“snags”) that pose challenges to ensuring firefighter safety and in responding to potential medical emergencies.

Fire managers from the Forest, working in collaboration with local county officials and cooperating agency representatives, have identified and prioritized critical values at risk in the fire area. The closest values are located three miles to the east of the fire’s location.

CURRENT STATUS/PLANNED ACTIONS:
This incident is being managed by a Type 3 Incident Management Team.
Yesterday the crew and sawyers continued to suppress hot spots that advanced ahead of the fire to the east and northeast with direct and indirect tactics. Aviation support was limited due to concentrations of heavy smoke in the area from larger fires near the McDermott fire. Fire resources are concentrating both ground and aviation resources to minimize potential fire spread that may threaten private property. Machinery with masticators are clearing roads of heavy vegetation to improve access for fire resources and potentially serve as a fire control line if fire spreads.

WEATHER AND FIRE BEHAVIOR:
Today showers and thunderstorms will be increasing from 3 pm onward. Chances of wetting rain are high into Thursday. There is a 90% probability of at least 0.50” of rain in the 48 hours between Wednesday afternoon and Friday afternoon with a probability of at least 1” of rainfall. Gusty outflow winds are a concern with any thunderstorms on Wednesday afternoon along with brief heavy rainfall. Temperatures will be in the low to mid-60’s with relative humidities between 36-41 percent. There will occasional wind gusts to 15 mph.

The fire made forward progression to the north and northwest into an unnamed drainage near McDermott Gulch. With increased cloud cover and anticipated wetting rain today, there should be a decrease in fire activity compared to yesterday.

CLOSURES AND RESTRICTIONS:
The Forest is in Stage 1 Fire Restrictions. Campfires are allowed only in a permanent metal fire grate/ring provided by the Forest Service in a designated, developed recreation site. Smoking is restricted to vehicles, in buildings, or in an area clear of flammable materials. Devices with an on/off switch that use LPG fuels are allowed in an area clear of flammable materials within 3 feet of the device.

Forest fire managers have closed trails in the area near the fire for public safety.

These trails include the following:
Black Pine Ridge Trail #8006
McDermott Gulch Trail # 8238
Pole Ridge Trail # 8237
Horsetheif Trail # 8297
Schilo Creek Trail # 8240
Upper Will Trail #8106
Rattling Gulch Trail

The public is encouraged to refrain from entering these areas for their safety and to allow for safe and effective firefighting operations. Heavy equipment, helicopters, and firefighters will be operating near the eastern flank of the fire and adjacent areas.