A fire near Big Bear Lake has scorched at least 1,200 acres since Monday afternoon and is only 10% contained. However, there is a bit of good news, as mandatory evacuation orders were lifted yesterday afternoon for the area of Holcomb Valley Road and Highway 18 in Baldwin Lake.
The mandatory evacuation orders were issued after the wind changed, making firefighters nervous about the fire turning, but those winds died down. The Sheriff's office is warning residents in Big Bear to be prepared in case the wind shifts again.
Helicopter and fixed wing aircraft were busy all day yesterday dropping water and flame retardant on the Holcomb Fire. More than 1,000 firefighters have joined the effort to knock down the wildfire. At least two firefighters have suffered heat-related injuries so far since the blaze began.
Thanks to all the smoke generated Holcomb Fire, the South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory, warning residents of unhealthy air in the San Bernardino Mountains. Smoke could be seen from satellite photos drifting east toward Las Vegas.