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Home > News & Columns > Michael P. Neufeld > Bighorn Fire Contained (Update 12)

Bighorn Fire Contained (Update 12)

Demobilization of Hand Crews Continues

By Michael P. Neufeld
Monday, May 19, 2008

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Update 12 — Monday 5:05 A.M.

The Bighorn Fire near Bt. Baldy is now fully contained and the demobilization of ground crews continues.

Full containment was reported about 6 p.m. yesterday. Roughly 300 firefighters were on scene late yesterday.

The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. It was first reported about 4:30 a.m. last Tuesday.

Update 11 — Sunday 5:30 a.m.

Mt. Baldy, CA — Full containment of the Bighorn Fire near Mt. Baldy is expected by 6 p.m. today.

Official report the blaze has now covered 490 acres and late yesterday was 86 percent contained.

Water dropping helicopters working the Bighorn Fire assist the 324 firefighters who are hoping to have the blaze fully contained by 6 p.m. today. (Photo by Dan Elliott SB County Fire.)

At last report, there were 324 firefighters on scene but scanner reports indicate the demobilization of ground crews is underway.

Fire spread, according to InciWeb, continues to be limioted to rolling debris and short runs.

Update 10 — Saturday 5:10 a.m.

Mt. Baldy, CA — The Bighorn Fire near Mt. Baldy Village is now 72 percent contained and the US Forest Service predicts full containment by 6 p.m. TOMORROW.

The cause of the fire that started Tuesday is still under investigation and is now shown as a 461 acre blaze within the Angeles National Forest.

The aerial support near Mt. Baldy on the Bighorn Fire is expected to help firefighters reach full containment by 6 p.m. Sunday. (Photo by Dan Elliott SC County Fire.)

Schools were open Friday and firefighters are reportedly making "excellent progress" making a line around the fire in steep terrain.

Fire activity is expected to be minimal and limited to pockets of heavy dead fuels and standard strands of snags.

Temperatures on the fire line yesterday reached 92 degrees.

Update 9 — Thursday 7:55 p.m.

Mt. Baldy, CA — The US Forest Service reports the Bighorn Fire near Mt Baldy Village has grown to 420 acres and is now 60 percent contained.

The Bighorn Fire neat Mt Baldy is now 60 percent contained and has burned over 420 acres. (Photo by Dan Elliott SB County Fire.)

A total of 755 personnel were working the fire Thursday, according to InciWeb, the online fire information website.

The site reports fire activity Thursday remained minimal and was limited to roll out and short runs back into the black. Crews made good progress building direct fire line and cold trailing in steep rugged terrain.

Officials anticipate containment on Sunday, May 18.

Bighorn Fire, Mount Baldy. Thursday, 05/15/2008 at 8:30 a.m. (Photo by US Forest Service.)

Update 8 — Thursday 5:35 a.m

Mt Baldy, CA — The US Forest Service reports the Bighorn Fire near Mt Baldy is now 25 percent contained and has grown to 320 acres.

InciWeb, the Forest Service's online fire information website, reports there are 623 personnel working the fire with crews continuing to construct direct handlines where possible in the steep terrain.

Incident commanders indicated they expected gusty northwest winds in the area through this afternoon along with humidity dropping into the teens.

InciWeb states: "The fire is starting to feel the influence of a strong high pressure system. This system will bring much warmer temperatures, very low humidity and strong N-NE winds gusting to 30 miles per hour for the next three days."

Rolling debris continues to contribute to the spread of the Bighorn Fire.

Update -– Wednesday 4:45 a.m.

Mt Baldy, CA – InciWeb, the US Forest Service's online fire information website, reports the Bighorn Fire is now 10 percent contained after consuming about 300 acres in the Bear Canyon area.

Bighorn Fire progression map, 2:50 p.m., Tuesday. (Photo by USFS.)

No structures are immediately endangered but six vacation cabins in the vicinity of Bear Canyon have been evacuated. No evacuation center has been established.

Bighorn Fire at Mt. Baldy. Photo taken at approximately 2:45 p.m. Tuesday. (Photo by Paul Ridgeway.)

Roughly 240 multi-agency personnel are currently assigned to the fire that began at about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday within the Angeles National Forest. The cause is under investigation and replacement crews are expected to arrive at the fire this morning to relieve overnight crews who cleared brush and established structure protection lines near Mt Baldy Village as a precaution.

Five water-dropping helicopters assisted ground crews yesterday as wind turbulence in the area prevented tankers from joining the assault on the Bighorn Fire. At last report the fire was making uphill runs due to steep topography and strong winds with gust in excess of 30 miles per hour.

At one point yesterday, two hikers (a father and daughter) had to be extracted by a San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department helicopter after being stuck north of the fire.

A Sheriff's Department spokesperson indicated the hikers placed a cell phone call for assistance and a helicopter with a hoist was sent to remove the two from the path of the fire.

Update 6 — Tuesday 5:35 p.m.

Mt. Baldy, CA — According to InciWeb, the US Forest Service's online fire information website, the fire near Mt Baldy Village has grown to 300 acres.

The cause of the Bighorn Fire, which began at approximately 4:30 a.m. this morning, is currently under investigation and scanner reports indicate zero percent containment.

About 250 personnel are currently assigned to the fire that is being fanned by strong winds gusting to 60 miles per hour at times. Roughly six recreation residences in the vicinity of Bear Canyon have been evacuated.

Bighorn Fire Progression Map as of approximately 4 p.m. on Tuesday. (Photo by USFS.)

Mt. Baldy Road at Shinn is closed and open to residents only. Glendora Ridge Road is closed at Mt Baldy Road and is also closed at the east fork.

Update 5 — Tuesday 3:40 p.m.

A lead plane flew over the fire at Mt. Baldy and reported the acreage to be around 200 acres, although it was difficult to see the perimeters due to smoke. "The fire is fairly active on both upper edges."

Smoke from Mt Baldy fire taken from my deck from my house in Crestline (Photo by Ken Deane Crestline.)

Air tankers are still grounded due to turbulence. The left flank of the fire is reaching a rocky area and the right flank is getting into an area with less fuels. However, the fire still has the potential to spread laterally.

Update 4 — Tuesday 2:55 p.m.

Mount Baldy resident Paul Ridgeway submitted this photo to RIMOFTHEWORLD.net. His message stated , "Trouble! The fire is over the ridge and the wind just shifted from a down canyon wind to an up canyon wind."

Update 3 – Tuesday 11:25 a.m.

Mount Baldy, CA – The Bighorn Fire is zero percent contained and scanner traffic indicates there are currently 240 ground personnel battling the stubborn blaze in rough terrain along with four water-dropping helicopters.

A California Highway Patrol unit on scene reported the fire is approximately 100 acres and the road closures may last as long as two to three days.

The Bighorn Fire in Bear Canyon continues to burn near Mount Baldy as winds prevent tankers from participating in the incident. A mandatory evacuation of cabins in Bear Canyon is now in place. (Photo by Paul Ridgeway.)

Update 2 – Tuesday 10:55 a.m.

Mount Baldy, CA – Strong winds continue to provide problems for firefighters battling the Bighorn Fire near Mount Baldy Village. The fire has now surpassed 100 acres and air support remains on the ground due to turbulence.

The fire is located in rugged and basically inaccessible terrain in Bear Canyon with helicopters making water drops to assist ground crews.

The Bighorn Fire near Mount Baldy Village has forced the closure of schools, roads and a voluntary evacuation of about 100-150 residents. This photo was taken from Mount Baldy School. (Photo by Principal Margaret Glick.)

Firefighters are currently gelling some cabins near Bear Creek Drainage. The fire is reportedly about 300 yards from the structures.

Incident command has just indicated Mount Baldy Road will be closed at least through tomorrow, "and possibly longer." Other roads in the area are subject to closure to allow firefighters to reach the blaze.

The Bighorn Fire is seen from Mount Baldy Road just north of Icehouse Canyon Bridge. The fire is reportedly progressing northerly up Bear Canyon. (Photo by Paul Ridgeway.)

RIMOFTHEWORLD.net talked with 28-year Mount Baldy resident Paul Ridgeway who was alerted to the fire by his daughter who lives in Lake Arrowhead. After reading about the fire on RIMOFTHEWORLD.net she called her parents to make sure they were safe.

"We had strong winds overnight," Ridgeway stated, "and we have more smoke now than earlier in the day."

Ridgeway, who describes himself as a "super" real estate agent, explained he just saw the first flames come over the top of the ridge near Bear Flats. "That's about a thousand feet higher than we are," he noted.

"It's a distance from us now," Ridgeway added, "but with these winds you never know. The gusts right now are probably 30-60 miles per hour."

Revised Update – Tuesday 9:11 a.m.

Mount Baldy, CA – A Los Angeles County helicopter has just airlifted two (2) hikers from the immediate area of the fire as a precaution.

Scanner transmissions report air support is not currently available due to wind gusts in the area of the fire.

Original story — Tuesday 7 a.m.

Mount Baldy, CA – As a precaution, firefighters have issued a voluntary evacuation of about 100-150 residents of Mount Baldy Village as a vegetation fire rages in Bear Canyon with wind gusts to 50 miles per hour.

The so-called Bighorn Incident is considered a border fire because it is burning in close proximity to San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County.

Scanner reports indicate the fire has consumed over 30 acres and currently poses no immediate threat to Mount Baldy Village.

Aircraft were initially unable to assist with the fire because of marine influence below the village. However, late reports indicate the first drops had been ordered.

Several roads in the area near the fire have been closed by the California Highway Patrol to facilitate access by fire equipment including Mount Baldy and Glendora Ridge Roads.

Schools in Mount Baldy have also been closed today.

Map is approximate.

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