Containment of Bridge Fire Increases to 35%

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SAN GABRIEL CANYON (CNS) - The Bridge Fire was 35% contained Wednesday while evacuation warnings were lifted and evacuation orders downgraded to warnings in both Wrightwood and Mt. Baldy, authorities said.

The fire in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument was 25% contained earlier Tuesday, according to the Angeles National Forest. It has burned 54,795 acres.

Forest officials praised "the great work of firefighters, public safety personnel, and utility companies" for the lifting and downgrading of evacuation orders.

"Aircraft worked to extinguish hot spots today around the southeast corner to aid firefighters in tying into current containment lines," according to a statement from forest officials released Tuesday. "Secondary containment lines will likely be finished on the south side of the fire tonight, and suppression repair will start there in the next 24 hours."

"The northwest flank of the fire still has scattered heat as seen by air attack, backing down in the understory with moderate intensity. Direct and indirect lines are being constructed to prevent further spread toward the communities of Mile High and Paradise Springs. Falling modules and other firefighting personnel remain in this area and throughout Big Pines, monitoring, mopping up, and mitigating hazard trees."

Crews continued with their progress on the east flank, constructing direct and indirect line south from Wright Mountain to prevent the fire from reaching Lytle Creek, officials said.

Crews will work from the East Fork on the west flank, along containment lines, validating that no heat remains and that lines are holding to increase the containment percentage, officials said. Three hotshot crews have been inserted by helicopter on ridgelines to construct an indirect line within the rugged and steep terrain of the Sheep Mountain Wilderness.

The fire has destroyed 73 structures and damaged 16 others, authorities said.

In Los Angeles County, an evacuation order remained in effect for the East Fork communities, including Camp Williams Resort and the nearby River Community.

In San Bernardino County, evacuation orders remained in effect for the area north of Icehouse Canyon and along Big Pines Canyon road to the community of Big Pines.

An evacuation order that was in effect for the entire Wrightwood community was changed to an evacuation warning Tuesday.

An evacuation warning also remained in place for Shin Road north to Icehouse Canyon.

The blaze began at 2:12 p.m. on 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.

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday formally ratified a local emergency declaration in response to the fire, aimed at expediting access to state and federal resources. Board chair Lindsey Horvath had issued the declaration preliminarily last week.

Kevin McGowan, director of the county Office of Emergency Management, told the board a recovery and repopulation plan was being developed in conjunction with other agencies involved in the firefight. He said local assistance centers would be set up in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, with details expected to be announced later this week.

Evacuation centers were open at the following locations:

-- Pomona Fairplex: 601 W McKinley Ave., Pomona (Enter Gate 3, corner of McKinley and White);

-- San Bernardino County Fairgrounds: 14800 Seventh St., Victorville;

-- Fountain of Living Waters Church, 10120 Johnson Road, Phelan.

Animal evacuation centers are at:

-- Palmdale Animal Care Center (small animals): 38550 Sierra Highway, Palmdale;

-- Lancaster Animal Care Center (small animals): 5210 W. Ave. I, Lancaster;

-- Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (large animals): 2551 W. Ave. H, Lancaster (call 562-706-8581 prior to arrival);

-- Devore Animal Shelter (pets/livestock): 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino (call 909-386-9820, or after hours 800-472-5609).

Road closures were in effect at the following locations:

-- Big Pines Highway;

-- Big Rock Creek Road;

-- Largo Vista Road;

-- Mescal Creek Road;

-- Panorama Motorway;

-- State Route 39 at the base of San Gabriel Canyon;

-- Glendora Mountain Road north of Big Dalton Road;

-- Mount Baldy Road at Shinn Road;

-- Mount Baldy at Ice House Canyon Road; and

-- Westbound state Route 2 at Flume Canyon Road.

Some 2,560 personnel were involved in the firefight Tuesday.

Four injuries were reported in the fire.

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.

The Bridge Fire was one of three large wildfires burning in Southern California, including the Line Fire in San Bernardino County and the Airport Fire in Riverside and Orange counties.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District extended an air quality advisory until at least 11 p.m. Wednesday for most of the region due to smoke from all three major wildfires.

The cause of the fire has not been determined.