SB Fire, Wind & Incident Coverage

Small brush fire in Beaumont

2008-10-27T20:39:43Z

Firefighters are battling a one-acre brush fire near Beaumont, just south of the 10 Freeway.

The fire started around 3:20 p.m. on Lamb Canyon Road but is not threatening any structures, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.

Flames have burned vegetation along the freeway and Beaumont Road, officials said.

Equipment blamed for San Antonio Fire

2008-10-24T20:38:52Z

SAN ANTONIO HEIGHTS - The small fire that spread up the foothills northeast of Euclid Avenue and mountain roads Thursday was caused by San Bernardino County employees removing brush, officials said.

A mower was blamed for igniting the 115-acre brush fire that broke out shortly after 2 p.m. No structures were threatened during the duration of the fire and evacuations were not needed, said Glenn Barley, public information officer for Cal Fire, formerly known as the California Department of Forestry.

The fire was completely contained by 8 p.m. Thursday. Crews will continue to mop up and patrol the area today.

"Things are looking pretty good today," Barley said this morning. "There were no problems during the night."

Low humidity and high temperatures could still be a problem, Barley said, but the winds are continuing to die down, which will ease the clean up efforts.

Fire breaks out in San Antonio Heights

2008-10-23T20:38:07Z

SAN ANTONIO HEIGHTS - A fire ranging from 50 to 100 acres is climbing the foothills above Upland.

The fire broke out about 2:15 p.m. today and it is burning toward San Bernardino. It is not an immediate threat to the Angeles National Forest, officials said, but could become one with the slightest change in weather.

Rancho Cucamonga Foxborough Fire Video

2008-10-22T21:58:06Z

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Map of Foxborough Fire location

2008-10-22T16:49:34Z

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AQMD issues smoke advisory for areas around Foxborough Fire

2008-10-22T16:48:32Z

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory for areas around the Foxborough Fire today, saying air quality will reach unhealthy levels.

The advisory was issued for smoke-impacted areas of San Bernardino County and eastern Los Angeles County.

The AQMD urged residents in the area to avoid unnecessary outdoor activities in areas with smoke.

melissa.pinion-whitt@inlandnewspapers.com

Power lines down in Rialto

2007-11-23T22:54:06Z

Scanner traffic indicates two power lines were downed by wind gusts in Rialto early this afternoon.

Neither posed any danger to residents, though one line reportedly was blocking a street.

Power company crews were called out to repair the lines.

Weather service: Winds strong below Cajon Pass

2007-11-23T17:04:35Z

LOS ANGELES --Santa Ana winds expected to return today and last through Saturday will be strongest below the Cajon Pass and in the Santa Ana Mountains, according to the National Weather Service.
Firefighters are on alert across Southern California as red flag warnings for strong, gusting winds and critical fire weather were issued Thursday by the Weather Service for mountains and passes in six Southern California counties.
The warnings are in effect until 6 p.m. Saturday.
Winds may begin gusting today during the mid- to late morning, said Don Whitlow, a Weather Service meteorologist based in San Diego.
The winds are expected to be strongest and most widespread late tonight through Saturday morning, with
moderate to locally strong Santa Ana winds at times, according to a Weather Service statement issued today.
Winds are expected to be strongest below the Cajon Pass and in the Santa Ana mountains and foothills.
Fire crews and extra equipment from across the West are here on standby.
In addition to county and state resources, federal assets assigned to be ready for strong winds include 11 air tankers, 18 helicopters, four military C-130s equipped for retardant drops, five lead planes, 170 fire engines, 21 hand crews and three incident management teams, according to the U.S. Forest Service.
The Los Angeles Fire Department will enforce parking restrictions for the Hollywood Hills and other fire-prone areas with narrow winding roads, officials said. The restrictions go into effect at 10 a.m. today until further notice.
-- Associated Press

Firefighters watch, wait

2007-11-23T16:48:16Z

SAN BERNARDINO - About 600 firefighters spent Thanksgiving at the National Orange Show Events Center on Thursday ready to battle any evidence of wildfire in the Inland region of Southern California.
The mass staging of firefighters and equipment was in response to dire forecasts of 60-70 mph Santa Ana winds and critical dryness in the mountains.

"We've got big TVs and good food today, actually real good food today," said Capt. Kevin Kamnikar of the Salinas Rural Fire District.

Fire crews dined on a traditional meal that included turkey, mashed potatoes and pumpkin pie, while they watched the USC-Arizona State football game inside the spacious Citrus building on the Orange Show grounds.

Several firefighters cheered when the Sun Devils scored a touchdown to tie the game. The Trojans won, 44-24.

Firefighters have waited for several days in case a new Inland wildfire erupts during the predicted high winds today.

"At a moment's notice, we'll take off," said Richard Lamy, a member of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Zuni Hotshots from Northeastern New Mexico.

Lamy's team arrived Sunday in San Bernardino.

Waiting to see if another blaze ignites is just business as usual for firefighters like Engineer Scott Freels of the Santa Clara County's unit of the state Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Freels has worked at more wildfires this year than he can name. "It's been a long summer," he said.

San Bernardino County Fire spokeswoman Tracey Martinez said the fire crews would likely stay through the weekend.

About 90 engine companies were staged and ready Thursday at the National Orange Show grounds in anticipation of the explosive weather formula of hot Santa Ana winds combined with a red flag warning.

Fire recovery information

2007-11-04T19:30:44Z

County officials have scheduled a fire recovery information fair for this afternoon. San Bernardino County’s Fire Emergency Local Assistance Center and other groups and agencies will be on hand to meet with mountain residents to discuss what kinds of assistance are available. The event is not a town hall-style meeting. The information fair will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Hootman Senior Center, 2929 Running Springs School Road, Running Springs.

County Scaling Back One-Stop Help Center

2007-11-02T15:32:43Z

With displaced victims of the recent wildfires moving from the National Orange Show evacuation center back home to the mountains, the county at noon today will scale back the scope of the Fire Emergency Local Assistance Center.
The FELAC, located in the Dome building at the National Orange Show, has served as a one-stop center housing more than 40 county, state, federal, and private agencies offering a wide array of services to help fire victims get back on their feet. The center has offered services ranging from counseling to small business assistance, from social services to property assessment, and from disaster aid to guidance on waste management.

]]> “The FELAC is a truly innovative and unique concept pioneered by the County of San Bernardino during the aftermath of the 2003 wildfires,” said Board of Supervisors Chairman Paul Biane.
“The county established the current FELAC in less than 24 hours while the fires were still raging in our local mountains,” Biane said. “More than 5,000 fire victims have visited the center during the past week, and the services there have played a central role in helping people rebuild their lives.”
Starting at noon today, the FELAC will be converted into a FEMA/OES Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) housing the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the state Office of Emergency Services. The DRC will operate Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
FEMA will also establish a presence in the mountains, and the county as well will locate office space in the mountains from which to offer an array of services for those working to recover from the fires.
The county is also creating a “virtual FELAC” that will be housed on the county website, www.sbcounty.gov. The virtual FELAC will contain the name, description, phone number, and web link for each of the agencies offering services.
Disaster information and assistance continues to be available by calling 211 within the county and 1 (888) 435-7565 from outside the county, or by logging onto the county website, www.sbcounty.gov, and clicking “Disaster Recovery Assistance.”
-- George Watson

Video: Residents Return Home

2007-10-31T03:20:38Z

Video: 10/30: Residents Return Home

Grass Valley resident who lost their homes receive gift from the county

2007-10-30T15:58:56Z

San Bernardino County has delivered a potted plant with a message that says “Our heartfelt support is with each of you in this difficult time” into the driveway of each house that burned in the Grass Valley area in Lake Arrowhead.
Each household was also given a bag with a mask, Kleenex and trash bags.

Updated Schedule for Mountain Visits

2007-10-30T15:06:07Z

The following is the updated schedule for site visits and re-entry of Grass Valley in Lake Arrowhead, as well as the Running Springs area and Arrowbear.

]]> Grass Valley in Lake Arrowhead:
SITE VISIT: Residents are able to view their homes and properties and salvage belongings Tuesday Oct. 30 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents interested in viewing their properties must attend a required briefing at Mary Putnam Henck Intermediate School at 730 Rhine Road in Lake Arrowhead between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. where they will be given a pass necessary for participation in the visit. The mandatory evacuation order for this area will remain in effect during the visit and persons attending the site visit will have to leave the area by 5 p.m. Residents must provide proof of residency and identification can include driver’s license, utility bill, credit card bill, a check, or an official document showing the resident’s name and a physical address (not a PO Box).
RE-ENTRY: At 6:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 31, the Grass Valley community area will be under a voluntary evacuation order and all residents will be allowed to return home without restrictions.
Running Springs Area and Arrowbear:
SITE VISIT: Residents are able to view their homes and properties and salvage belongings Wednesday Oct. 31 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents interested in viewing their properties must attend a required briefing at Rim of The World High School between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. where they will be given a pass necessary for participation in the visit. The mandatory evacuation order for this area will remain in effect during the visit and persons visiting the site must leave the area by 5 p.m. Residents must provide proof of residency. Identification can include driver’s license, utility bill, credit card bill, a check, or an official document showing the resident’s name and a physical address (not a PO Box).
RE-ENTRY: At 6:00 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 1, the Running Springs area and Arrowbear will be under a voluntary evacuation order and all residents will be allowed to return home without restrictions.
* Site visits and re-entry for the Community of Green Valley Lake are in the planning stages. Public safety officials and utility companies are working tirelessly to prepare the area for site visits and re-entry.
FOR ALL THE SITE VISITS:
Firefighters and law enforcement will be present, as well as counselors from the county Department of Behavioral Health, county Department of Public Health professionals, health care personnel, and representatives from the American Red Cross and the FEMA Community Relations Field Specialists.
People attending the site visit are advised to bring canvas gloves, sturdy footwear, eye protection, and to wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts. The county Department of Public Health will provide plastic bags for salvaged belongings, rubber gloves, and facemasks.
Information on the ongoing fire emergency, including the status of the fires, assistance resources, damaged and destroyed homes, is available via a disaster link on the county website, www.sbcounty.gov.
Information on assistance is also available by calling 211 or (888) 435-7565, and by visiting the Fire Emergency Local Assistance Center (FELAC) at the Dome building at the National Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino.
State Route 330 remains closed between Highland and Running Springs.
Curfew orders between sunset and sunrise are in effect for all mandatory evacuation areas.
-- George Watson

Breakdown on Fire Losses

2007-10-30T14:46:00Z

The Slide Fire, which burned in Green Valley Lake, Running Springs, Enchanted Forest and Smiley Park, destroyed 272 homes and damaged 43, according to Adam Aleman, the county's assistant assessor.
The Grass Valley Fire, which burned primarily in Lake Arrowhead, destroyed 178 homes and damaged 22, he said.
-- George Watson