Brush fire near Highland increases to over 20,000 acres

The Line Fire in San Bernardino County has grown to 20,552 acres with 3% containment and has prompted evacuations and road closures, state fire officials reported Monday.

The fast-moving but so far non-injury brush fire erupted Thursday near Base Line Road and Alpin street in Highland, according to Cal Fire. No damage to structures has been reported but 36,328 buildings are currently threatened.

“Vegetation on the #LineFire remains critically dry,” Cal Fire San Bernardino posted on X Monday morning. “There will be areas of smoke in the morning that could become more widespread in the afternoon. There is also a chance of showers and a slight chance of thunderstorms in the late morning and through the early evening.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom on Saturday proclaimed a state of emergency in San Bernardino County and announced that the state has secured a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for firefighting resources.

Newsom’s proclamation eases access to unemployment benefits and waives fees to replace driver’s licenses and records such as marriage and birth certificates for residents impacted by the blaze. The proclamation also allows for exemption from certain laws and regulations to enable fire-impacted hospitals and care facilities to continue operating.

The FEMA grant is through the President’s Disaster Relief Fund on cost-share basis and assists local, state and tribal agencies to apply for 75% reimbursement of fire suppression costs.

“It’s critical that residents in the impacted areas remain vigilant and prepare to evacuate immediately if called for by local authorities,” Newsom said in a statement.

Currently over 1,700 firefighters from state and local agencies, 15 helicopters, “numerous firefighting air tankers” and 195 firefighting vehicles are involved in the containment effort, according to Cal Fire.

Evacuation orders are in effect for:

• The area from Calle Del Rio to Highway 38, including Greenspot Road North;
• All underdeveloped land east of Highway 330 to Summertrail Place and north of Highland Avenue;
• The areas of Running Spring east of Highway 330 and south of Highway 18;
• The communities of Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake;
• The area east of Orchard Road to Cloverhill from Highland Avenue north to the foothills;
• North of Highland Avenue and East of Palm Avenue to Highway 330;
• Garnett Street east to 38 and Mill Creek north to the foothills;
• Forest Falls; and
• Mountain Home Village.

These areas were under evacuation warnings, but residents who need additional time to evacuate and those with pets and livestock should leave immediately:

• From Boulder Avenue east to Church Street and Greenspot Road north to the foothills;
• Church Street east to the city limit and from the foothills south to Greenspot Road;
• Green Valley Lake north of Highway 18;
• The communities of Cedar Glen, Lake Arrowhead, Crestline and Valley of Enchantment;
• Angelus Oaks, Seven Oaks; and
• Garnet Street to Bryant Street and Carter Street north to Mill Creek.

Evacuation shelters are at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, Building 6, 14800 Seventh St. in Victorville; and the Jessie Turner Health and Fitness Community Center, 15556 Summit Ave. in Fontana.

The Devore Animal Shelter is accepting large and small animals at 19777 Shelter Way, in San Bernardino, 909-386-9820 or 800-472-5609 after business hours.

These roads are closed:

• Highway 18 from Kuffel Canyon to the Big Bear Dam — “If you are in Running Springs, you are able to get out but you will not be allowed back in,” authorities said. Highway 330 also remains closed from Highland Avenue to Highway 18 in Running Springs.
• Highway 18 northbound, or inbound, from Kuffel Canyon to Running Springs — only traffic going southbound, or outbound, is permitted.
• Highway 18 from Running Springs to Highway 38 at Big Bear Dam.
• Highway 330 from Highland Avenue to Highway 18 in Running Springs.
• Garnet Street at SR-38 in Mentone.
• SR-38 eastbound is closed at Bryant Street, with an additional closure at Angelus Oaks. “Residents of Mountain Home Village and Forest Falls will be evacuated down bound on SR-38 towards Mentone,” Cal Fire reported. “Residents of Angelus Oaks will be evacuated up bound towards Big Bear.”

The fire’s cause was under investigation.

Maps of the evacuation zones and fire containment, as well as updates on the firefight, are available at the Cal Fire website.