In Southern California’s San Bernardino County, the massive Rhine Fire grew to more than 7,100 acres on Saturday, prompting mandatory evacuations of more than 500 homes in the city of Highland.
About 500 firefighters were battling the blaze, which nearly doubled in size in a matter of hours and remains uncontained, according to the San Bernardino National Forest. Early Saturday afternoon, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department issued mandatory evacuations for homes near the growing blaze.
Weather officials say smoke from the fires, combined with the extreme heat currently gripping the region, is creating thunderstorm-like clouds, sparking reports of lightning strikes in the area.
Additionally, storms sparked by smaller fires have increased winds in the area, making the fires continue to spread and challenging the work of firefighters.
The wildfire first broke out along Baseline Road around 6 p.m. Thursday and burned hundreds of acres before exploding to more than 3,000 acres Friday night. The fire continues to burn near Highland, where some residents said Friday they could see the flames from their homes.
L.R. Johnson and the Braga Family
“The winds were shifting and the flames were coming really close to us,” said Highland resident Brian Gano, who was trying to put out the flames with a hose with his wife and son. “We have a pressure hose in the backyard.”
The sky over San Bernardino County glowed orange and bright red flames could be seen blazing through the brush as firefighters swarmed through billowing smoke and sprayed extinguishing agent to battle the blaze from the air and the ground.
Firefighters managed to contain the blaze within the San Bernardino National Forest, but winds began to blow the flames toward homes.
“We engaged in an intense firefight to protect these homes,” Cal Fire Battalion Capt. Brent Pascua said.
Meanwhile, throughout Friday, people living in the area waited for news on whether they would have to evacuate. One resident, Diya Hirpara, said she was buying groceries as a precaution at the time.
“It was pretty scary,” Hirpala said. “We were just waiting on the edge.”
Inland News
Evacuation advisory Has been running for the past 2 days But officials issued a mandatory order for the first time on Saturday ordering residents to evacuate immediately. The order applies to the area from Calle del Rio to Highway 38, including Greenspot Road North.
A total of 506 homes were damaged in that area alone, according to San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Mara Rodriguez.
Sheriff’s Department officials then announced further evacuations just before noon, ordering evacuation for all undeveloped land east of Highway 330 to Summer Trail Place and north of Highland Avenue.
“This is an immediate law enforcement order to evacuate,” Cal Fire said, calling the fire an “immediate threat to life.”
Additional evacuation orders were issued around 4:30 p.m. Saturday as the fire continued to grow. Residents near Highways 330 and 18 were told to immediately evacuate their homes as flames had overflowed the roadway.
Just before 7 p.m., the San Bernardino Police Department issued more evacuation orders for many homes north and east of Highland and Palm avenues.
Shortly thereafter, the order was expanded to include the entire communities of Running Springs and Arrow Bear Lake, as well as areas east of Orchard Road to Clover Hill and north of Highland Avenue into the foothills, according to SBSD officers.
A shelter was set up at Immanuel Baptist Church, 28355 Baseline St. in Highland.
The American Red Cross is also assisting displaced residents, providing shelter, water and other supplies.
Amid chaos, evacuation orders have forced thousands of people to flee their homes. A small earthquake shookAccording to the United States Geological Survey, a.
On Friday, air quality regulators issued a smoke advisory to warn people of poor and harmful conditions as smoke from the Rhine fire is carried by winds into surrounding areas. The air quality has been rated as “unhealthy for sensitive groups” to “very unhealthy,” a category that indicates anyone, including those with no health conditions, may experience adverse side effects.
According to the South Coast Air Quality Management Agency, winds are blowing smoke from the wildfires west toward the cities of Highlands and San Bernardino, and people in those areas are expected to feel the effects on Friday and Saturday.
Maps showing the latest smoke and air quality conditions can be found here.
As for road closures, officials said Baseline Road is closed from Fairwood to Brockwood due to firefighting efforts. “All residents may travel in and out of the area but should follow detour instructions,” officials said in an update on Saturday.
Aurantia Park in Highland is also closed to the public.
A complete list of the latest evacuation orders, road closures and other information for affected people can be found here.
