The Bridge Fire in California grew 10 times in size over 24 hours to become the state’s largest wildfire, destroying at least 33 homes, as firefighters grappled with three major fires that are still largely uncontained Wednesday.
One of those fires, the Line Fire in the San Bernardino National Forest, has resulted in the arrest of a man accused of “intentionally igniting” it, the sheriff’s office said.
The Bridge Fire, which sparked Sunday in Angeles National Forest, exhibited “extreme fire behavior,” jumping from 4,000 acres early Tuesday to 46,000 acres by evening, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CalFire). The blaze expanded from Los Angeles County into San Bernardino County.
It was the largest wildfire in the state Wednesday, spanning nearly 48,000 acres and was 0% contained.
The fire has destroyed approximately 20 homes in the Mount Baldy area, 13 homes in the Wrightwood area, and six cabins in the wilderness, officials said at a news conference Wednesday.
There have been no reports of deaths or significant injuries. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger and other officials urged people to heed evacuation warnings and leave when told.
“Squandering even a few minutes may be the difference between life and death,” Barger said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Video by the San Bernardino County Fire Department showed firefighters and deputies performing rescue evacuations in Wrightwood on Tuesday evening as flames consumed brush and trees.
The Bridge Fire is one of three major fires in Southern California — along with the Line Fire and the Airport Fire — which sparked amid an intense heatwave that brought triple-digit temperatures and dry conditions to the region.
The weather has been trending cooler but still posed an increased risk for fires. A “red flag” warning was in place for areas around the Bridge Fire through 10 a.m. Thursday, and gusty winds could drive the fire further east, the National Weather Service said.
Line Fire
Officials said Tuesday a man was arrested, accused of sparking the Line Fire that is burning in the foothills of the San Bernardino National Forest, east of Los Angeles, and now spans more than 34,600 acres and is 14% contained.
Justin Wayne Halstenberg, 34, from Norco, allegedly started the fire in the area of Baseline Road and Alpin Street in the city of Highland on Sept. 5, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office said.
He was booked Tuesday at the Central Detention Center on a charge of arson and held on $80,000 bail.
Officials said in a news conference Wednesday that an automatic license plate reader flagged his vehicle near the area where the fire started and led investigators to look into him. Officials said Halstenberg works for Fedex as a third contract delivery driver.
A search warrant conducted Tuesday led to the discovery of evidence “that supported his arrest,” said Jacob Hernandez with the San Marin County Sheriffs Department.
“It’s my belief that as time goes on and we allow (investigators) to do the critical work that they’re doing, that we will actually find out this suspect may have been responsible for other fires,” San Bernardino County Sheriff Shannon Dicus said.
He said investigators believe Halstenberg set the Bridge Fire intentionally, but did not disclose how, saying, “that will be one of those pieces of evidence that does allow us to connect it to multiple fires.”
The blaze has continued to grow in steep terrain described as difficult to access and has impacted “key radio towers on Keller Peak,” hampering major communication channels used to respond to the incident, CalFire’s unit that covers San Bernardino County said.
Fire officials say public safety power shutoffs are anticipated for parts of Big Bear and Bear Valleys.
Some 65,600 structures are threatened. Evacuation orders are in place for the communities of Running Springs, Arrowbear Lake, Forrest Falls, Mountain Home Village, and parts of Big Bear, along with more evacuation warnings.
Gov. Gavin Newsom issued a state of emergency due to the Line Fire on Saturday and the said the state’s National Guard will support the fire response.
Airport Fire
Meanwhile, in Orange County south of Los Angeles, the Airport Fire had burned approximately 22,376 acres by Wednesday, the Orange County Fire Authority said.
It was sparked Monday afternoon in Trabuco Canyon accidentally by heavy equipment working in the area, officials said.
The fire is 0% contained. Structures have been damaged or destroyed in the El Cariso, Long Canyon and CCC camp area, the county fire department said.
The blaze was initially reported near an airfield that hobbyists use for remote-controlled planes. On its website, a local flying club called Trabuco Flyers said no remote-controlled aircraft were flying when the fire started.
“The cause of the fire as we announced yesterday is accidental, unintentional, by heavy equipment working in the area of the RC Airport,” OCFA Captain Paul Holaday said in a news conference Tuesday.
Evacuation orders and warnings are in place.
“One of the challenges we’re having is competition with other fires in California,” Brian Fennessey Fire Chief said Tuesday, citing the Bridge and Lines fires. “All of these fires are drawing down on the limited resources available to us.”
On Tuesday, Newsom’s office said it mobilized nearly 6,000 boots on the ground and hundreds of engines, 51 helicopters and 141 water tankers as the state fights 16 active wildfires.
Davis Fire
In neighboring Nevada, the Davis Fire has also wreaked havoc, including near Big Bear, already lashed by the Line Fire. It spanned over 5,800 acres as of Wednesday morning and was 31% contained.
The U.S. Forest Service of Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest warned “extreme fire conditions” are anticipated Wednesday due to high winds “which could lead to rapid fire growth.” The National Weather Service issued a “Particularly Dangerous Situation” red flag warning from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. PT for the Sierra Front, including the area of the fire.
The blaze had started around Davis Creek Regional Park, just south of Reno, on Saturday, and was burning heavy timber and brush.
On Wednesday, Clark County, Nevada, officials issued an air quality alert due to wildfire smoke from the multiple Southern California wildfires.
Tuesday marked the last day of high temperatures near the fires in Nevada and Southern California and Wednesday will bring a cooling flow from the Pacific Ocean.