SAN GABRIEL CANYON (CNS) – The Bridge Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument is 98% contained Thursday as crews continued efforts to extinguish hot spots and extend lines of cleared vegetation around the burn area.
The fire in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness was 93% contained earlier Wednesday. It has burned 54,878 acres, threatened 4,409 structures, destroyed 81 and damaged 17 others, officials said.
“This week’s hot, dry weather caused vegetation within the fire perimeter to flare up, leading to visible smoke in some areas of the fire yesterday (Tuesday),” fire officials said in a statement Wednesday morning. “It will likely do so again today as pockets of unburned fuel burn off. Firefighters will engage in mop-up efforts and investigate all smoke and extinguish isolated heat sources. The removal of hazardous trees continues in areas across the fire.”
The blaze began at 2:12 p.m. Sept. 8 near East Fork and Glendora Mountain roads, according to forest officials. The fire initially remained relatively small, but exploded in size at the tail end of an extended heat wave on Sept. 10, destroying dozens of structures as it marched into San Bernardino County.
It is the largest active fire in the state.
Road closures were in effect at the following locations:
— Eastbound Big Pines Highway at Largo Vista Road (residents only);
— state Route 2 at Flume Canyon Road westbound;
— Big Rock Creek Road at Forest Service Road 4N55;
— Mescal Creek Road at Mescal Canyon Road;
— state Route 39 at the base of San Gabriel Canyon (residents only);
— Glendora Mountain Road north of Big Dalton Canyon Road; and
— Glendora Ridge Road from Mt. Baldy to Glendora Mountain Road.
There were 587 personnel assigned to the fire on Wednesday.
There have been at least five firefighter injuries reported, although incident commanders on Wednesday were reporting a total of eight injuries.
The fire was being battled in a unified command consisting of Cal Fire San Bernardino, the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, San Bernardino County Fire Department and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
On Wednesday evening, command of the firefighting operations will be transferred from a California Interagency Incident Management Team back to the Angeles National Forest.
The Bridge Fire was one of three large wildfires burning in Southern California. The Line Fire had burned 39,232 acres in San Bernardino County and was 83% contained Tuesday, while the Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties had burned 23,526 acres and was 95% contained.
The cause of the Bridge Fire has not been determined.
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