Line Fire burns in San Bernardino County as it remains 83% contained, no structures threatened
Flames were burning in San Bernardino County's Line Fire Thursday after it reached 83% containment. It scorched through tens of thousands of acres this month but no new evacuations orders have been issued after they were all lifted.
The wildfire started Sept. 9 in the city of Highland and sent thousands of people fleeing from their homes in cities such as Big Bear Lake, Big Bear City and surrounding communities. A man has been arrested on suspicion of sparking the blaze and is facing arson and other charges in connection with an injury to a firefighter and more than $7 million in damages.
By Thursday, after all evacuations for homes had been lifted, it was estimated to be 39,232 acres, according to Cal Fire, or the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. No structures are currently being threatened, officials said Thursday.
At 10:35 a.m., Cal Fire San Bernardino County said smoke was coming from containment lines, with officials describing this as unburned vegetation burning as the blaze pushes out of Bear Creek, which it has been doing the last few days.
"There are aircraft working on this unburned area of vegetation and it is not threatening any structures at this time," Cal Fire San Bernardino County officials said. "There is still a lot of unburned vegetation in that area of steep, inaccessible terrain."
Just before 11 a.m., some flames could be seen tearing through hillsides, with plumes of smoke rising from mountain areas in aerial footage captured by SkyCAL. About a half hour later, San Bernardino National Forest officials said the wildfire was burning in the Bear Creek area just south of Snow Valley Resort.
Sept. 26: Line Fire is burning in Bear Creek area so. of Snow Valley Resort, producing smoke visible in Inland Empire, High Desert, other areas. Contained 83%. Assigned: 1,224 personnel; 4 helicopters; 69 engines; 23 dozers; 4 water tenders; 24 crews; 34 other. #LineFire #SBNF pic.twitter.com/Ib0pWGjSbR
— San Bernardino National Forest (@SanBernardinoNF) September 26, 2024
Officials said it's just excessive vegetation that still needs to be burned off to get rid of the dead fuel.
Meanwhile, areas of the San Bernardino National Forest remain closed, officials said.
On Wednesday, Cal Fire officials said there has been minimal fire activity across the blaze but "still some smoldering and isolated flareups."