Emerald Fire in San Bernardino National Forest

[Sonar]

Emerald Fire News from Wed night.

Emerald Fire

Three miles north of Mentone

San Bernardino County

More than 2,000 acres have already burned in the Emerald Fire since shortly after 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Reports indicate 10 percent containment as of this morning. The incident is in unified command with the San Bernardino National Forest and the California Department of Forestry. The Incident briefing is scheduled for 10 a.m. today when the USFS Type 2 Incident Management Team will assume command. This incident had a rapid rate of spread. Hot temperatures, low humidity and moderate range spotting hampered containment efforts and forced the evacuation of the Morton Peak Lookout. Spotting indicates extreme fire conditions and occurs when a small fire gets ahead of the main fire because hot embers are being carried to a receptive fuel bed.



CDF has several air tankers, helicopters, engines, dozers, crews and personnel on this federal fire. In total 575 personnel have been assigned: 351 from CDF, 196 Federal, and 28 from Local government. The California Conservation Corps has a crew that is providing camp support.



The Emerald Fire burned actively throughout the evening. Active fire is expected during the day, and weather reports forecast a potential for winds in the afternoon. The road closure remains in effect for Highway 38 from Bryant Street to Valley of the Falls Drive, with mandatory evacuations of the Mountain Home Village and Loch Leven Conference Center. The Highway 38 road closure will remain in effect through Wednesday when it can be assessed in daylight hours for public safety and removal of firefighting equipment. The communities of Mountain Home Village, Forest Falls, Angeles Oaks and Big Bear are still threatened. One medical emergency associated with the incident occurred when a firefighter felt chest pains and was transported to the hospital.

 

[Sonar]

Emerald Fire update from Thu morning.

Emerald Fire May Have Been Started by Gunfire
Firefighters keep San Bernardino County blaze at 2,000 acres.
By Maeve Reston, Times Staff Writer
August 31, 2006

Fire investigators are searching for whoever may have ignited the 2,000-acre Emerald fire in San Bernardino County on Tuesday while target shooting in a dry, grassy area in Highland, authorities said.

Fire officials said Wednesday they found evidence of target shooting on California Department of Forestry land near the fire's point of origin. The fire quickly spread across about 40 acres of brush and grass north of Mentone into the San Bernardino Mountains, where it is now burning in steep, rugged terrain that is making access difficult for firefighters.

The fire was more than 40% contained as it burned east Wednesday evening, with 1,023 firefighters at the scene and the assistance of seven air tankers, three heli-tankers and seven helicopters.

Full containment is expected by 6 p.m. Friday.

Movement has been minimal, and the fire "hasn't grown in size," said Norma Bailey, a fire information officer with the U.S. Forest Service.

A firefighter was treated on scene for heat-related injuries Wednesday as temperatures topped 95 degrees; another was taken to a hospital Tuesday after reporting chest pains.

Evacuation orders are still in effect for the Mountain Home Village and Loch Leven Conference Center.

Highway 38, the border of one flank of the fire, is still closed from Bryant Street north of Yucaipa to Valley of the Falls Drive on the far eastern edge of Highway 38.

Only residents showing identification are permitted to use the section of Highway 38 between Valley of the Falls and Lake Williams Drive south of Big Bear Lake.

 

[brandon]

Thanks for the updates. Been listening to this on the scanner. Could see the smoke very well on Tuesday evening, it almost covered the entire sky.

 

[Sonar]

Another fire in the area. I heard over the scanner that a brush fire started off the I-15 near Devore today [Thu].