Line Fire near Highland explodes past 20,000 acres Sunday night, 0% containment
The Line Fire near Highland expanded to 20,553 acres Sunday night, with the blaze threatening 36,328 structures, including single and multi-family homes, commercial buildings, and other minor structures, Cal Fire reported.
On Sunday, authorities reported that 1,855 personnel continued to battle the fire by air and on the ground.
Authorities reported that the Line Fire's behavior was moderated Sunday morning due to smoke, but as the afternoon progressed, the smoke cleared, and temperatures climbed leading to more fire activity.
Night flight capable aircraft will be utilized, when possible, to try to hold the fire within currently containment lines.
Early this week, cooler weather will moderate fire activity below the marine layer. However, fire activity above the marine layer will remain active. There is still potential for spot fires to become established well outside the control lines. fire officials stated.
A Damage Inspection Team has been ordered and more resources have arrived from throughout the state.
Saturday night
On Saturday night, the fire exploded past 17,400 acres as Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in San Bernardino County.
Nearly 628 fire personnel from several agencies were battling the Line Fire from the ground and air on Sunday morning. By Sunday evening, the number of personnel had increased to 1,855, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
The Line Fire, which sparked Thursday evening near Base Line Street and Aplin Street in Highland, is spreading in a northeast direction, authorities stated.
The fire expanded to 1,200 acres by Friday night. On Saturday afternoon, it was measured at 7,122 acres and on Sunday morning 17,459 acres.
More resources are arriving from across the state to battle the fire that is being fueled by critically dry vegetation and temperatures pushing past 100 degrees, fire officials stated.
Thunderstorm outflow winds are causing the fire to behave erratically, the San Bernardino County Fire Department reported on Sunday.
Three people have been injured in the blaze, according to Cal Fire, which did not reveal if the injured were civilians or fire personnel.
There are currently 35,405 structures threatened, including single and multi-family homes, commercial buildings, and other minor structures. A Damage Inspection Team has been ordered, according to Cal Fire.
Line Fire evacuation orders
An evacuation order means there is an immediate threat to life. This is an order by law enforcement to leave immediately. The area is lawfully closed to public access.
Evacuation orders have been issued by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for the following areas:
The area from Calle Del Rio to Highway 38, including Greenspot Road North
All underdeveloped land east of Highway 330 to Summertrail Place and north of Highland Avenue
The areas of Running Spring east of Highway 330 and south of Highway 18
The communities of Running Springs and Arrow Bear Lake
The area east of Orchard Road to Cloverhill from Highland Avenue north to the foothills
North of Highland Avenue and east of Palm Avenue to Hwy. 330
Garnett Street east to Hwy. 38 and Mill Creek north to the foothills.
Mountain Home Village
Forrest Falls
The California Highway Patrol on Sunday night reported that Hwy. 38 eastbound is shut down at Bryant Street. An additional closure will be set up at Angelus Oaks. Residents of Mountain Home Village and Forest Falls may evacuate down bound or up bound on Hwy. 38 towards Mentone or Big Bear.
If a resident in the evacuation zone needs transportation, they can call and ask for help at http://wp.sbcounty.gov/sheriff.
No service last post for a little bit the fire is going to come down to the 38 expect closures probably pretty soon. #linefire pic.twitter.com/eRtumScItG
— FirePhotoGirl (@FirePhotoGirl) September 8, 2024
Line Fire evacuation warnings
An evacuation warning means there is a potential threat to life and/or property and residents should be ready to leave the area if law enforcement orders it. Those who require additional time to evacuate and those with pets and livestock should leave immediately.
From Boulder Avenue east to Church Street and Greenspot Road north to the foothills
Church Street east to the city limit and from the foothills south to Greenspot Road
Green Valley Lake north of Hwy. 18
Area of Cedar Glen
Area of Lake Arrowhead
Area of Crestline
Area of Valley of Enchantment
Angelus Oaks
Seven Oaks
Sheriff's officials reported that they are actively performing additional patrols throughout all evacuated areas of Highland and are prepared to assist residents as needed.
For the latest evacuation center locations, visit prepare.sbcounty.gov/line-fire.
NEW: @CAGovernor Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency in San Bernardino County & announced California has secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from @FEMA to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the fire.#LineFire
🔗 https://t.co/bgBlapWulc pic.twitter.com/a6shRUBD2Z— Governor Newsom Press Office (@GovPressOffice) September 8, 2024
Line Fire evacuation shelters
Cal Fire announced that a new evacuation shelter has opened at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds Building No. 6 at 14800 Seventh St. in Victorville.
On Sunday, residents sheltering at Immanuel Baptist Church, 28355 Base Line St. in Highland were relocated to the newly established Jesse Turner Community Center at 15556 Summit Avenue in Fontana, which is temporarily closed for public activities, sheriff's officials reported.
Animal evacuation shelter
Devore Animal Shelter, 19777 Shelter Way, San Bernardino. For more information, call 909-386-9820 or 800-472-5609 after hours.
Schools
On Sunday, Hesperia Unified School District officials said due to improving conditions and the current air quality management district level of "Moderate," the district plans to hold normal school hours on Monday Sept. 9, with schools modifying events to limit outside activities.
The Victor Elementary School District is closely monitoring the air quality conditions and currently plan to have school on Sept. 9. However, if the air quality becomes unhealthy, they will adopt its inclement weather schedule.
Lucerne Valley Unified schools will be open on Monday, Sept. 9, while they monitor air quality. The school district will also monitor air quality for after school activities/sports and make decisions early in the day regarding any possible changes to scheduling.
All Barstow Unified School District schools will be open Monday, Sept. 9.
Due to the evacuation notices in East Highland, all Redlands Unified School District schools and facilities will be closed for students and staff on Monday, Sept. 9.
Redlands Unified families and staff will be notified by 4 p.m. on Monday if the closure will be extended, Cabral added.
Rim of the World Unified School District officials have called a non-student day on Monday, Sept. 9 for students and staff.
Located in the San Bernardino Mountains, the Bear Valley Unified School District on Sunday night said there will be no school on Monday, Sept. 9. They added that the fire poses no threat to campuses. Earlier in the day, the district reported that schools would not be closed.
All schools in the Yucaipa-Calimesa Joint Unified School District will be closed on Monday, Sept. 9.
Crafton Hills College in Yucaipa will be closed on Monday, Sept. 9.
San Bernardino City Unified School District schools will be open on Monday, Sept. 9.
California State University, San Bernardino will have classes on Monday, Sept. 9, with outdoor activities moved indoors or rescheduled. Air systems will be modified to limit outdoor smoke from entering classrooms.
Apple Valley Unified School District schools will be open Monday, Sept. 9, with district officials monitoring air quality.
Rim of the World Unified School District: On Monday, district officials stated that schools will be closed from Sept. 9 to 13, or until further notice
Road closures
Both directions of Highway 330 were shut down "until further notice" Saturday afternoon between Highland Avenue in Highland and Highway 18 in Running Springs, according to the California Department of Transportation and sheriff's department officials.
Northbound traffic on Highway 18 was shut down Saturday evening between Kuffle Canyon Road and Running Springs, Caltrans said. Southbound traffic remained open.
Highway 18 is closed from Kuffle Canyon to Big Bear dam. Highway 330 remains closed in both directions
Garnet Street is closed at Highway 38 in Mentone.
More: Line Fire scorches more than 7,100 acres in San Bernardino County
Line Fire creates own weather system
Before sunset Saturday, the fire had grown big enough to create its own weather system.
A massive, mushroom-shaped pyrocumulus cloud fed by the heat of the wildfire formed above, according to the National Weather Service.
"These can create very dangerous conditions for fire fighters," the NWS said via social media. "As of 6:30 p.m., we recorded over 3700 lightning strikes inside the clouds, with over 280 ground strikes."
Smoke from Line Fire affects High Desert air quality
Smoke from the Line Fire has created hazy conditions in the High Desert.
On Saturday, the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District issued an air advisory for potentially poor air quality through at least Monday due to wildfire smoke.
Emergency declaration
Newsom’s emergency declaration allows all state government agencies to use and employ personnel, equipment, and facilities to battle the fire that sparked on Thursday.
Among other provisions, the emergency proclamation supports affected residents by easing access to unemployment benefits and waiving fees to replace driver’s licenses and records such as marriage and birth certificates.
The declaration also allows the waiver of certain statutes and regulations so that hospitals, adult and senior care facilities, child care facilities, and other care facilities in the area can continue to provide services.
The Fire Management Assistant Grant, which is provided through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund on cost-share basis, will assist local, state and tribal agencies responding to the fire to apply for 75% reimbursement of their eligible fire suppression costs.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Anyone needing information on the status of the Line Fire can call 909-220-4292. Residents can continue to call 211 for road closure info, evacuation routes, animal care resources, shelter information, mental health support and food assistance.
This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Line Fire in Highland grows; injuries reported, evacuations ordered