A firefighter observes the Line Fire in the foothills of the San Bernardino National Forest, in Mentone, Calif., on Monday. State fire officials said cooler temperatures and moister air this weekend are helping to contain the Line Fire and two others in southern California. File Photo by Apu Gomes/EPA-EFE
Sept. 14 (UPI) — Favorable weather and unstinting efforts by firefighters are helping to bring a trio of destructive wildfires in California under control, state and local officials said Saturday.
The most serious of the blazes, the Line Fire near San Bernardino, Calif., was 25% contained as of 1:13 p.m. PDT, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
That 38,000-acre fire was threatening more than 56,000 structures, but only one has been destroyed and three others damaged. Three firefighters have been injured in battling the Line Fire, which had triggered evacuations in Highland, Calif., and Big Bear, Calif.
Some of those evacuation orders had been lifted but others affecting 44,000 homes and commercial buildings in San Bernardino County remain in place.
Officials have classified the Line Fire as a case of arson. The San Bernardino County Attorney announced this week that Justin Halstenberg, 34, of Norco, Calif., was charged with nine counts of arson in connection with the fire, which started Sept. 5.
Higher moisture levels and cooler air following weeks of record-high temperatures are helping to tamp down the Line Fire and the state’s other wildfires, officials said.
“Saturday is expected to be mostly sunny and seasonably cool with poor visibility in the morning,” Cal Fire said in an update. “The weather is expected to remain cool over the next several days which will continue to help moderate fire behavior. Firefighters are strengthening control lines and mopping up hot spots.”
A weak cold front is expected to bring a chance for rain between Sunday and Monday across southern California, the National Weather Service said.
Meanwhile, the Bridge Fire burning in the rugged San Gabriel Mountains north of Los Angeles remained the largest of the three southern California blazes at 53,000 acres. It was 3% contained as of Saturday afternoon, Cal Fire said. It has consumed 19 structures so far after starting Sunday.
“Today, the Bridge Fire had minimal movement,” fire officials said Saturday. “Firefighters continued to mop up hot spots, establish or strengthen containment lines along the entire perimeter of the fire where accessible to do so.”
A third blaze, the Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties, was 9% contained after spreading to more than 23,000 acres and destroying 107 structures as of Saturday. Eleven firefighters have been injured in battling it so far. I started Monday.
Firefighters are making “significant strides” in establishing a key containment line near Lakeland Village, Calif., and are tapping “invaluable” air support in battling the blaze, Cal Fire said.