Firefighters are still battling the Bridge Fire spreading within the San Gabriel Mountain National Monument. This wildfire has been burning for nearly a month, reaching a containment rate of 99% last Saturday, with a burned area of 54,878 acres.
According to the city news agency, the Bridge Fire is simultaneously burning in San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County, having destroyed 81 structures, damaged 17 more, and causing injuries to 8 individuals.
The Angeles National Forest stated on social media last Saturday that smoke from a secluded area within the fire can be seen on both sides of the San Gabriel Mountains, near Pine Mountain to the north of Mt. Baldy and south of Wrightwood. However, the smoke does not pose a threat to containment lines and mountain communities.
Forest officials noted that the fire broke out near East Fork Road and Glendora Mountain Road on September 8 at 2:12 PM, initially at a small scale. But on September 10, as the heatwave subsided, the fire suddenly grew, destroying several buildings and advancing towards San Bernardino County.
This is currently the largest active fire in California, with the cause of the blaze still undetermined. As of Monday, a total of 78 personnel have been assigned to firefighting operations.
The firefighting efforts are being carried out jointly by the California Fire Department’s San Bernardino Division, Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office, San Bernardino County Fire Department, and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office.
Another large active wildfire in Southern California is the Line Fire in San Bernardino County, with a burned area of 43,978 acres and a 87% containment rate.
As for the Airport Fire in Orange County and Riverside County, containment reached 100% as of last Saturday evening, with a total burned area of 23,526 acres.