Bridge Fire destroys 33 homes and burns over 21 000 ha (52 000 acres) in California, U.S
The Bridge Fire, which has burned through over 21 360 ha (52 800 acres) across Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, is only 3% contained as of late Friday (LT), September 13, 2024. The fire has destroyed 33 homes and continues to threaten thousands more, according to officials.
Image credit: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA, The Watchers
- The Bridge Fire has burned through over 20 234 ha (50,000 acres) across Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, with only 3% containment, as of late Friday (LT), September 13.
- The fire has destroyed 33 homes, including 20 in the Mt. Baldy area and 13 in Wrightwood, while more than 2 500 structures remain under threat.
- Mandatory evacuation orders are in place for Wrightwood, Pinon Hills, and East Fork communities, affecting approximately 11 000 homes. Over 2 100 firefighting personnel, along with helicopters and other equipment, are working to contain the blaze.
- While firefighters reported improving weather conditions, including reduced winds and higher humidity, fire officials warn that the situation remains dangerous, and the fire still poses significant risks.
The Bridge Fire, which has been burning since Sunday, September 8, in the San Gabriel Canyon, reached 3% containment on Friday. It has now spread to more than 21 360 ha (52 800 acres) across Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
According to fire officials, the fire has destroyed 33 homes in the Wrightwood and Mt. Baldy areas, and it continues to threaten thousands of additional structures.
On Thursday, September 12, firefighters reported favorable weather conditions, with decreasing winds, increasing humidity, and dropping temperatures. This allowed crews to establish containment lines. Despite the slight reprieve, Cal Fire warned that the situation remains fluid.
“It still presents a very real threat despite the ease in temperatures,” said Eric Sherwin of San Bernardino County Fire.
I’ve experienced plenty of fires near & in Wrightwood, but never been more scared till this evening. I’ve never moved that fast to grab as much as I possibly could ): #BridgeFire pic.twitter.com/hB6gApKlEy
— sydney (@sydneyy032) September 11, 2024
Wrightwood was directly in the fire’s path on Wednesday evening, September 11, as the blaze rapidly expanded. Firefighters responded immediately with life-safety efforts, rescuing residents unable to evacuate. The Wrightwood community is currently under evacuation orders.
“Once it approached Highway 2, the canyon winds took a section of it and literally exploded it into the Wrightwood community. That threat remained with us throughout the night due to very high winds,” said Sherwin.
Here you can see one of the points where the #BridgeFire jumped Hwy 2 (Big Pines) in #Wrightwood and how close it got to a home.
— Gigi Graciette (@GigiGraciette) September 12, 2024
I understand there is some damage in this area but too far back for me to see. @foxla pic.twitter.com/q9tj4OaG5U
Ski lifts at the Mountain High Ski Resort were scorched, but the resort itself was mostly unharmed by fire as staff turned on snow-making machines to keep vegetation wet.
The fire remains the largest active fire in California, with an area of 21 360 ha (52 800 acres) as of Friday, and only 3% containment.
Approximately 2 500 structures are threatened by the blaze, though no fatalities or major injuries have been reported. During a press conference on Wednesday, Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone confirmed that 20 homes in the Mt. Baldy area, 13 in Wrightwood, and 6 wilderness cabins had been destroyed.
Currently, 408 firefighting personnel, 10 helicopters, 32 engines, 28 bulldozers, 15 water tenders, and 36 crews are engaged in battling the blaze.
LA County Supervisor Lindsey Horvath signed a proclamation declaring a local emergency as the fire continued northeast toward Pinon Hills.
A mandatory evacuation order for the East Fork communities of Camp Williams and River Community was issued by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department on Sunday evening. On Monday, September 9, an evacuation order was issued for all residents north of San Antonio Dam up to Mount Baldy Resort.
The fire was first reported around 15:00 on Sunday, near East Fork Road and Glendora Mountain Road in the San Gabriel Canyon area of Los Angeles County. It rapidly expanded over the next few days, with Cal Fire estimating it grew from 1 619 ha (4 000 acres) to 13 857 ha (34 247 acres) on Tuesday, September 10, and further increased to 19 425 ha (48 000 acres) by Wednesday morning.
NEW VIDEO!
— WeatherNation (@WeatherNation) September 13, 2024
Watch this mind-blowing time lapse of the #BridgeFire towering over the Los Angeles skyline on Tuesday!#cawx pic.twitter.com/BdUhacSpjs
Bridge Fire documented: Sep 10, 2024
— Brandon Yoshizawa (@bay_photography) September 13, 2024
A day to night timelapse of 1400 photos showing the sequence of the Bridge Fire burning in the Angeles National Forest behind the LA skyline.
As of today, the fire is 52k acres at 3% containment.
dm me for licensing requests pic.twitter.com/btSV7xdomH
By Friday, Kenichi Haskett, a section chief with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, reported that approximately 11 000 homes had received evacuation warnings or orders. He added that over 2 100 personnel were on site by Friday.
The Southern California region is dealing with two additional major wildfires: the Line Fire in San Bernardino County, which is 21% contained, and the Airport Fire in Orange County, which has reached 8% containment. Together, these fires have burned more than 45 325 ha (112 000 acres) and forced thousands of evacuations.
Evacuation orders remain in place for several areas, including Wrightwood, Pinon Hills, and the East Fork communities of Camp Williams and River Community. Road closures include San Gabriel Canyon, Highway 39, and sections of Glendora Mountain Road and Mt. Baldy Road.
Authorities remain hopeful that current weather conditions, including slowing wind speeds and increasing humidity, will help contain the fire. However, Haskett reiterated that the threat is far from over: “The weather has been in our favor, but we need to remain vigilant.”
References:
1 Crews make progress on containment of California’s Bridge Fire – CBS – September 13, 2024
2 Line and Bridge Fires blaze in California, thousands of acres torched, thousands evacuated- USA Today -September 13, 2024
3 Bridge Fire – Calfire – Accessed on September 13, 2024
I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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