Firefighters in SAN GABRIEL CANYON, Calif., are working tirelessly to contain the Bridge Fire, which has now spread from San Gabriel Canyon above Glendora into San Bernardino County and has grown to cover 53,638 acres (83.8 square miles).
As of Saturday evening, the fire was only 3 percent contained, mainly on the southwestern flank, according to CalFire.
“Today, the Bridge Fire had minimal movement,” Cal Fire stated in the latest update on Saturday. “Firefighters continued to address hot spots, establish or reinforce containment lines along the entire perimeter of the fire that were accessible. Resources were concentrated on the northern area of the fire, with air operations providing water drops as needed near the communities of Big Pines and Wrightwood.
“Although the fire is slowly moving downhill on the east side, firefighters are remaining vigilant in Icehouse Canyon, where the challenging terrain remains. Heat and active flames are still present in the Mt. Baldy Village area, and crews are prioritizing structure protection.
“A marine weather inversion is assisting crews along the southern boundary in creating direct lines, extending from the southwest towards the east with mop-up operations. Favorable winds are also helping maintain the fire within its current footprint on the west side, which contains some of the most rugged terrain in the wilderness.”
Weather conditions are expected to be mostly favorable in the upcoming days, with high winds in higher elevations and low temperatures at night. Warm temperatures and low humidity are still present in lower desert areas, but two cold fronts are forecasted for the coming week.
Fire officials mentioned that humidity remains low in higher elevations, but the marine layer and higher humidity in lower elevations are aiding crews in strengthening primary and secondary containment lines in the southeast, south, and southwest flanks of the fire, while also making progress in their mop-up operations.
Evacuation orders and warnings are still in effect for various communities and areas affected by the fire, with evacuation centers and road closures established to ensure the safety of residents and animals.
No significant injuries have been reported so far, and a large number of personnel and resources are involved in the firefight.
The Bridge Fire is one of three major wildfires currently burning in Southern California.
Wildfires Update in Southern California
The Line Fire has scorched 38,074 acres (59.5 square miles) in San Bernardino County as of Saturday morning, with containment at 25%. In Riverside and Orange counties, the Airport Fire has burned 23,519 acres (36.7 square miles) and is currently 19% contained.
The South Coast Air Quality Management District has issued an air quality advisory extension until at least 11 p.m. on Sunday for the majority of the region due to smoke from these wildfires.
The cause of the Bridge Fire remains unknown at this time.
