Blue Cut, Cajon Pass, San Bernardino Natl. Forest

Blue Cut, San Bernardino NF. IMT 1 (Opliger). Two miles east of Lytle Creek, CA. Chaparral, brush and tall grass. Minimal fire behavior. Road, area and trail closures in effect. Reduction in acreage due to more accurate mapping.

August 23, 2016 at 7:51 AM

Minimal fire behavior in a fire environment with extreme fire behavior potential. Active fire behavior mitigated by effective fire suppression efforts. Planned actions: Mop up, secure, and reinforce containment lines. Operational support for the suppression repair plan. Continue demobilization of excess resources to the incident.

Repopulation of areas continue (subject to residency verification). The following are road closures (residency verification required for access) to assist with restoring essential power to the community. Hwy 138 open to residents only from Hwy 2 to Stone Basin Road.
Hwy 138 at Stone Basin Road to Interstate 15 is closed to allow emergency equipment in the area to replace power poles affected by the fire.
Lone Pine Canyon Road to Swarthout Canyon Road to Hwy 138 is closed.
US Forest Road 3N31 at Lone Pine Canyon road is closed.
The dirt portion of Lytle Creek Road is closed from the gun range in to the forest.

August 22, 2016 at 8:01 AM

Mop up, secure, and reinforce containment lines. Operational support for the suppression repair plan. Continue demobilization of excess resources to the incident.

August 21, 2016 at 9:42 PM

Effective Sunday, August 21st, at 4:00 p.m., the evacuation orders for Wrightwood, Swarthout Canyon, Lone Pine Canyon, West Cajon Valley and Lytle Creek have all been lifted. RESIDENTS ONLY will be allowed past the road closures. Some residents returning to their homes may find that they are without electricity.

Southern California Edison is working diligently to restore utilities.
A Damage Assessment Team working under the Blue Cut Fire Unified Command announced today that a preliminary estimate of 105 single family residences and 216 outbuildings were destroyed by the Blue Cut Fire, and 3 single family residences and 5 other structures were damaged. This is a preliminary report.

August 21, 2016 at 11:38 AM

Experiencing minimal fire behavior in a fire environment with extreme fire behavior potential. Active fire behavior mitigated by effective fire suppression efforts.

Effective Sunday, August 21st, at 10:00 a.m., the mandatory evacuation orders for the community of Lytle Creek will be reduced to voluntary. RESIDENTS ONLY will be allowed past the road closure at Sierra Way/Lytle Creek Road and Glen Helen Parkway by providing verification of residency to personnel assigned at the road closure.

We appreciate all the people who evacuated the Lytle Creek area. The Blue Cut Fire posed a real danger to residents living in these areas. Your safety remains our top concern.

We ask that residents returning to the evacuation zone exercise caution. Firefighters, engines, and heavy equipment continue to operate in the area. The San Bernardino County Sheriff will continue enhanced patrols through these areas with additional units.

The remaining mandatory evacuations will be lifted as soon as the danger to residents has been reduced.

August 20, 2016 at 9:40 PM

Fire Status: Firefighters continued to extinguish hot spots within fire lines. The work of firefighters and utility crews enabled the lifting of the mandatory evacuation of Wrightwood which is now open to residents. Tonight firefighters will continue to work aggressively to complete containment lines and reinforce existing lines. Utility companies will continue work to replace damaged or destroyed infrastructure. The fire has destroyed 105 single family homes and 213 other minor structures. For information on damaged or destroyed homes please contact the Local Assistance Center at 760-539-3093 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

August 20, 2016 at 12:15 PM

Effective Saturday, August 20th, at 12:00 p.m., the mandatory evacuation orders for the community of Wrightwood will be reduced to voluntary. RESIDENTS ONLY will be allowed past the road closure at Hwy 138 / Hwy 2 by providing verification of residency to personnel assigned at the road closure.

We appreciate all the people who evacuated the Wrightwood area. The Blue Cut Fire posed a real danger to residents living in these areas. Your safety remains our top concern.

We ask that residents returning to the evacuation zone exercise caution. Firefighters, engines, and heavy equipment continue to operate in the area. The San Bernardino County Sheriff will continue enhanced patrols through these areas with additional units.

The remaining mandatory evacuations will be lifted as soon as the danger to residents has been reduced.

August 20, 2016 at 10:09 AM

Overnight firefighters made good progress and will continue to work aggressively today to gain additional containment of the fire along with mopping up all areas of the fire in an effort to move toward repopulation of evacuated areas.

Initially, roughly 34,500 structures were threatened; the number is updated to approximately 3,198 structures in and around the communities of Wrightwood, Lytle Creek, and the West Cajon Valley area: As a result from the initial evacuated population of some 82,649 people. Approximately 7,000 civilians remain evacuated.

Additionally, utility companies will continue to work in the fire area to replace damaged or destroyed infrastructure. The Damage Assessment Team has confirmed that the fire has destroyed 105 single family homes and 213 other minor structures.

For information on damaged or destroyed homes please contact the Local Assistance Center at 760-539-3093 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The County of San Bernardino will also make a notification to residents in the affected areas via the Telephone Emergency Notification System.

August 19, 2016 at 10:50 PM

The Blue Cut Fire started on August 16, 2016 at 10:36 AM in the Cajon Pass along Old Cajon Blvd. north of Kenwood Avenue west of Interstate 15. The fire quickly spotted across Cajon Creek and grew into a large wildland fire. During the course of the fire fight, railroad lines, local roads, highway 138 and Interstate 15 were closed along with a large evacuation area that included Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Summit Valley, Baldy Mesa, Phelan and Oak Hills.

The Cause of the Fire is under investigation, however investigators need your help to determine the fire cause. If you seen anything, heard anything have photos or videos, please call We Tip 1-800-47-ARSON or submit your tip online at: http://wetip.com/

August 19, 2016 at 12:49 PM

Effective Friday, August 19, at 1:00 p.m., the mandatory evacuation orders for residents west of Baldy Mesa Road to Wilson Ranch Road south of Phelan Road to Mission Street affected by the Blue Cut Fire will be lifted.

Baldy Mesa Road south of Phelan Road will re-open.

Eastbound Hwy138 from I-15 to Summit Valley will also re-open.

August 19, 2016 at 12:30 PM

The Damage Assessment Team for the Blue Cut Fire under Unified Command announced this morning a Preliminary Estimate of 96 single family residents and 213 outbuildings were destroyed in the Blue Cut Fire. This is only a Preliminary report.

August 19, 2016 at 7:20 AM

Fire will continue to move to the north, northwest and northeast towards Wrightwood, Victor Valley,Phelan, Baldy Mesa and South Hesperia. As the fire crosses the ridge to the west, it will back towards the community of Lytle Creek. Approximately 34,500 structures remain threatened in the communities of rightwood, Oak Hills, Phelan, Lytle Creek, Baldy Mesa, West Cajon Valley, South Hesperia, and Summit Valley. Structures are known to have been damaged or destroyed but cannot currently be assessed due to the extreme fire behavior and growth. A Damage Assessment Team (DAT) has been ordered to assist.

August 18, 2016 at 6:33 PM

Evening update 35,969 acres, 22% contained and nearly 1600 personnel working the fire.

Moderate south winds will diminish after sunset with a persistent southerly flow. Slope winds after 2000 hrs will be south 5-10 mph with gusts to 15 mph. Ridgetop winds will be south to southwest 20 mph with gusts to 30 mph. Poor overnight recovery with max humidity of 17-30 percent.

August 18, 2016 at 5:55 PM

Effective Thursday, August 18, at 6:00 p.m., the mandatory evacuation orders and advisories for residents in the areas west of I-15 to Baldy Mesa Road, south of Phelan Road to Whitehaven St. and Praire Trail, affected by the Blue Cut Fire will be lifted.

North and southbound Oak Hills off-ramps will be opening

August 18, 2016 at 1:37 PM

Effective Thursday August 18, at 1:00 p.m., the mandatory evacuation orders and advisories for residents in the areas east of I-15 to Santa Fe/Summit Valley Road, south of Ranchero Road to Highway 138, affected by the Blue Cut Fire will be lifted.

Santa Fe/Summit Valley Road and Arrowhead Lake Road/Hwy173 will be opened.

Hwy 138 will continue to be closed at I15 East to Summit Valley Road.

We appreciate all the people who evacuated in this area. The Blue Cut Fire is burning very aggressively and at one time posed a real danger to residents living in these areas.

We ask that residents returning to the evacuation zone exercise caution. Firefighters, engines, and heavy equipment continue to operate in the area. The San Bernardino County Sheriff will continue enhanced patrols through th ese areas with additional units.

The remaining mandatory evacuations will be lifted as soon as the danger to residents has been reduced.

August 17, 2016 at 8:16 PM

Red Flag conditions remain in effect until 9:00 P.M. Thursday. Hot, Dry and Breezy. Very poor relative humidity will continue. Ridge top winds 20 mph with gust to 30 mph.

Planned actions tonight: Provide structure defense. Establish containment lines as opportunities present.

• CA IMT2 (Wakoski) in command with tentative transition to CA IMT1 (Opliger) at 6:00 pm tonight
• No divert on aircraft.
• Full closure of Hwy 138 from Hwy 2 to I-15.
• Mandatory evacuations in place for communities of Wrightwood, Lytle Creek, West Oak Hills, East Oak Hills, West Cajon Valley, East of I-15 from Summit Valley Rd South of Ranchero Rd., The community of Baldy Mesa south of Phelan Rd.
• I-15 Northbound closed at I-215, I-15 Southbound closed at Ranchero.
• Evacuation center located at Jesse Turner Community Center in Fontana as well as Sultana High School in Hesperia.
• Imminent threat to rail traffic in the Cajon Pass.

August 16, 2016 at 9:23 PM

Evacuations/Road Closures – Have Reached Los Angeles County/ Wrightwood

Mandatory Evacuations: Wrightwood from San Bernardino County to Jackson Lake

Road Closures: Highway 138 East from Phelan Rd
Highway 2 From Big Pines Highway to Hwy 138

Evacuation Center: Soltana High School
17311 Soltana St., Victorville

Large Animals: San Bernardino County Fair Grounds
14800 7th St, Victorville

Small Animals: Apple Valley Shelter
22131 Powhagen Rd

Devore Shelter
19777 Shelter Way

August 16, 2016 at 8:38 PM

Per CHP, alternate routes after closures of Hwy 15 and 138:
Hi-desert to IE take Hwy 18 to Hwy 247 to Hwy 62 to I-10.
To LA: take Hwy 18 wb to 138 to Hwy 14 sb to I-5

August 16, 2016 at 8:26 PM

Interagency Incident Management Team 4 (Opliger) has been ordered to assume command of the fire.

An estimated 34,500 homes and 82,640 people are being affected by the evacuation warnings.

Six firefighters became entrapped by wildfire today while defending homes and assisting evacuations in the Swarthout Canyon area west of Cajon Pass. The six firefighters were part of two San Bernardino County Fire (SBCoFD) engine companies assigned to the area northwest of Cajon Blvd.

Firefighters were able to shelter in place within a nearby structure, but two firefighters sustained minor injuries. Both firefighters were transported to a local hospital where they were treated and released and are now back on the fire line defending structures. One SBCoFD fire engine sustained moderate fire damage.

August 16, 2016 at 5:50 PM

California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services Director Mark Ghilarducci today secured a Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG) from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help ensure the availability of vital resources to suppress the Bluecut Fire burning in San Bernardino County. The FMAG also enables local, state and tribal agencies to recover eligible costs.

August 16, 2016 at 5:45 PM

San Bernardino Sheriff’s Office:

Please adhere to all evacuation orders! This is a wildfire burning out of control with zero containment; numerous structures have been destroyed

CURRENT SITUATION: As per US Forest Service (USFS):
• UPDATE: The fire is now at 6,500 acres at 0% containment
• UPDATE: Per CHP Recommended Alternative Travel Routes:
– From the Valley to the High Desert: Interstate 10E to Highway 62N to Highway 247N to Highway 18W
– From High Desert to the Valley: Highway 18E to highway 247S to Highway 62S to Interstate 10W

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS
• UPDATE: The entire Community of Wrightwood north to Hwy 138 is under mandatory evacuation
• UPDATE: East of Interstate 15 out to Hwy 173 – Summit Valley Area
• UPDATE: East of Interstate 15 from Summit Valley Road south of Ranchero Road
• UPDATE: The community of Baldy Mesa south of Phelan Road is under mandatory evacuation

ROAD CLOSURES
• UPDATE: Per CHP there is a hard closure on Old Mill Road at Hwy 138 in Crestline
• Per the incident, Lytle Creek at Glen Helen Blvd.
• Old Cajon Blvd north of Devore
• Highway 138 from Summit Valley Road to Highway 2
• As per San Bernardino County Sheriff, Hwy 138 to Lone Pine Canyon has been closed.
• I 15 Northbound is closed at Interstate 215
• I 15 Southbound is closed at Ranchero
• Swarthout Canyon Road to Cajon Boulevard
• Lone Pine Canyon Road is closed from East Canyon Drive through Highway 138

EVACUATION SITE:
• A Care and Reception Center has been opened at the Jessie Turner Community Center located at: 15556 Summit Avenue, Fontana CA 92336
• UPDATE: As per ARC, Sultana High School has become an overnight Shelter. Sultana High School is located at 17311 Sultana Street Hesperia CA 92345

ANIMAL CONTROL
• UPDATE: Evacuees can take small animals to the Apple Valley Animal Shelter located at 22131 Powhatan Road, Apple Valley CA 92308
• Large and small animals may also be taken to San Bernardino County Fairgrounds located at 14800 7th Street, Victorville CA 92395

SCHOOLS
• Per San Bernardino City School District – Kimbark Elementary School students are being evacuated to Chavez Middle School located at 6650 North Magnolia Avenue, San Bernardino 92407 where they will remain for the rest of the day as a precaution
• Snowline Unified School District is evacuating students from Wrightwood Elementary School. Reunification with parents that cannot pick up their students by 3:00 p.m. will take place at Serrano High School located at 9292 Sheep Creek Road, Phelan CA 92370
• Snowline Unified also reports cancellation of bus routes in Wrightwood and the West Cajon Valley. Students on those routes will also be taken to Serrano High School for reunification
• Snowline USD Info Line: 760-868-5817/Snowline USD website: snowlineschools.com

August 16, 2016 at 5:22 PM

Evacuations extended to Bear Valley Rd on the North, Hwy 395 on the East, and Caughlin Rd on the West.

The fire is currently 6,500 plus acres with 700 personnel on scene. 57 engines, 8 crews, 8 air tankers, 2 Very Large Air Tankers (VLATS). Additional firefighters and equipment on order.

There is eminent threat to public safety, rail traffic and structures in the Cajon Pass, Lytle Creek, Wrightwood and surrounding areas.

Unknown number of structures are damaged and destroyed.

2 minor injuries to firefighters.

SCAQMD has issued a Smoke Advisory for portions of San Bernardino Country.

MANDATORY EVACUATIONS AREAS:
East of I-15, south of Ranchero and west of Summit Valley
The entire community of Wrightwood
North of 138, east of Sheep Creek, south of Phelan Rd. and west of Caliente
Lone Pine Canyon
Swarthout Canyon
West Cajon Valley
Lytle Creek Canyon

ROAD CLOSURES
Highway 138 has been closed from Interstate 15 to Highway 2
Old Cajon Blvd north of Devore Cutoff
Lytle Creek @ Glen Helen

Hwy 38 to Lone Pine Canyon has been closed.
15 Northbound at I-215
15 Southbound at Ranchero
EVACUATION CENTERS:
Jessie Turner Community Center
15556 Summit Avenue
Fontana, CA

Sultana High School
17311 Sultana St.
Hesperia, CA 92345

ANIMAL EVACUATION SHELTER:

Devore Animal Shelter (small animals)
19777 Shelter Valley
San Bernardino, CA
(800)472-5609

Victorville Fair Grounds (large animals)
14800 7th Ave.
Victorville, CA