Mt. Baldy Spared from Vista Fire

Firefighters have prevented the still-raging Vista Fire from reaching Mt. Baldy Resort , California, by creating a line between the fire and unburned fuel, such as brush or trees, within the ski area.

"Because that area itself has been hiked so much—that Backbone Trail—there was already a good line in there, they just strengthened that line," said Nathan Judy, a spokesperson for the US Forest Service. "The other portion of that line they had up on top was the road system that's up there as well. So they use a combination of road systems and hand lines to secure that top portion of the area."

The Vista Fire started Sunday, July 7th. Robby Ellingson, Mt. Baldy Resort's General Manager, said he didn't sleep much until Wednesday of that week when it became clear that the fire probably wouldn't spread into the ski area.

Before then, the fire raced up to the ridge near Roller Coaster, a run that borders Mt. Baldy Resort's area boundary. "The fire crews were right on that ridge," says Ellingson. Last week, he told SAM , "We repositioned fan guns and prepped our snowmaking pumps in order to keep buildings and equipment wet in the event that the fire broke over the ridge."

The contained portions of the Vista Fire have been hit by winds that, according to Judy, have effectively tested the firefighting lines over the past few days. "[The winds] could reignite fuels if you have some heat within there," he said. "But we didn't see any event… that's when we feel secure and say, 'Hey, we don't think they're gonna go anywhere.' We're able to put black on the map and say, 'These lines, these areas are contained.'"

"Everything went as good as it possibly could have gone," says Ellingson.

On July 12th, because of the Vista Fire, the Forest Service instituted a closure that includes Mt. Baldy Resort, preventing the ski area from opening to the public. While the closure remains in effect until October 31st, the Forest Service will reassess the closure's boundaries after the Vista Fire has been contained. In the summer, Mt. Baldy Resort is normally open for scenic chairlift rides on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Judy notes that areas that haven't been burned by the fire, which include Mt. Baldy Resort, could open sooner.

"The staff is up there doing our regular, routine maintenance as always, and we expect that the closure would be lifted soon and that we'll be able to open to the public again," says Ellingson. "I think my estimate is probably before the end of the month." Mt. Baldy Resort's operating plan permits continued maintenance through the Vista Fire Closure.

Elsewhere, the Vista Fire, which has consumed 2,936 acres as of Monday, July 15th, is 59% contained. Judy said that fire crews have headed into the Cucamonga Wilderness by air to build fire lines and stop the fire from moving south. They spent last night in the wilderness and will be extracted this evening.

"We flew it with an IR flight. We gave them those locations where the hot spots are. They're going to go up there, and they're going to attack those hot spots to put those things out," Judy said.

Related: Breckenridge's July 4th Skiing Celebration Perseveres Despite New Challenges

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