The Line Fire in Southern California has consumed over 20,553 acres and remains completely uncontained, as of the latest reports on Sunday night.
Starting at the base of the San Bernardino Mountains near Los Angeles on September 5, the blaze rapidly spread, leading to a series of evacuation orders and road closures. Hot weather, dry conditions, and strong winds have further exacerbated the situation.
On Saturday, California Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for San Bernardino County, enabling federal resources to assist in combating the fire.
Newsom expressed his gratitude to President Biden for quick federal assistance, emphasizing the importance of preparedness among residents in the affected areas: “It’s critical that residents in the impacted areas remain vigilant and prepare to evacuate immediately if called for by local authorities.”
Despite ongoing containment efforts, the fire continued to grow through the weekend, as challenging weather hampered firefighters. The National Weather Service reported that the Line Fire was intense enough to generate its own weather patterns, including pyrocumulus clouds.
Pyrocumulus clouds may form on top of very hot fires, like today for the Line Fire near Highland, CA. These can create very dangerous conditions for fire fighters! As of 630PM, we recorded over 3700 lightning strikes inside the clouds, with over 280 ground strikes! #cawx @NWS https://t.co/EorjHIhRBw
— NWS San Diego (@NWSSanDiego) September 8, 2024
Approximately 500 firefighters are on the front lines, with three reported injuries, though their conditions remain unclear. Cal Fire has indicated that around 36,328 structures, including homes and commercial buildings, are currently under threat from the fire.
Over the weekend, numerous residents evacuated San Bernardino County due to the advancing fire. Some of the key areas under evacuation orders include:
- Calle Del Rio to Highway 38, including Greenspot Road North
- All underdeveloped lands east of Highway 330 to Summertrail Place, and north of Highland Avenue
- Running Springs and surrounding areas
- Forest Falls and Mountain Home Village
Cal Fire anticipated a drop in temperatures this week, which could help moderate fire activity below the marine layer; however, conditions above it may still remain severe. The investigation into the fire’s origin is ongoing.