There are new fires in the San Bernardino Mountains that started this morning. Here are a couple of announcements I found. I can see the smoke rising from the mountains.
All Mountain Roads Closed To Non-Residents
Update: 9:18 AM
Crestline - The California Highway Patrol has closed all mountain roadways, including Highway 18, 330, 138, and 173, to non-residents. Any residents returning to the mountains will be required to show proof-of-residency such as a drivers license, utility bill, or other identifying document. An evacuation center has been established at the Jerry Lewis Community Center in Highland at 7793 Central Avenue, near Fifth Street, for all evacuees.
Please use this diary to discuss the new fires in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Mandatory Evacuations Issued For Green Valley Lake, Arrowbear, Running Springs
Update: 9:27 AM
Green Valley Lake - Mandatory evacuations have been ordered for Green Valley Lake, Arrowbear Lake, and Running Springs.
A pair of fires were reported shortly after 8 AM. The fires have very quickly grown to be between 75 and 100 acres. There are reports of imminent threats to structures in Green Valley Lake. One fire was reported to be approximatly 1 mile in on Forest Service Road 2N13. The fire was reported to be about 1/2 acre in size. The second fire was reported at Deep Creek and Green Valley Lake Rd. The fire is reported to be headed toward Crab Creek. Aircraft are on order, but wind conditions may prevent their deployment.
Grass Valley Fire
Homes Lost in Lake Arrowhead Area
Update 10:25 AM
Lake Arrowhead - There are multiple reports of structures on fire on Brentwood and Pinehurst in Lake Arrowhead and near Grass Valley Golf Course. Residents are calling from the area reporting that their homes are on fire. Dispatchers are telling them to evacuate. There are insufficient fire fighting resources in the area to extinguish the structure fires. At 9:45 AM, a flare up was reported in the Deer Lodge Park area sending up a large smoke plume. At 9:53 AM, a resident reported fire at the rear of residences along the 26000-block of Amador Lane in Lake Arrowhead with no firefighters nearby. Firefighters near Amador and Trinity were driven back by the fire and had to retreat to a safe zone. The fire is crossing Brentwood as of 10:03 AM. The next threat is to Sandalwood.
Evacuations have been ordered for parts of Grass Valley, Trinity Tract, Modoc, Dear Lodge, Black Oaks Drive, and Brentwood in Lake Arrowhead. An evacuation center has been established at Charles Hoffman Elementary in Running Springs.
The fire is burning in the old wood chipping area along Highway 173 and spreading westward. Structure protection crews are preparing to gel homes to the Brentwood, Sanoma, and Trinity areas of Lake Arrowhead.
Grass Valley Road is closed at Five Points. Many roads are blocked in the area due to downed power lines and tree. Downed phone lines are preventing residents from being notified of the evacuations from the automated TENS calling system.
As of 9 AM, the fire was reported to be about 200 acres in size with a rapid rate of spread and no containment. It is burning to the northwest side of Grass Valley Road and the northwest side of Edge Cliff Drive near the power plant area, according to scanner reports. The fire is well established in an inaccessible area of the Grass Valley drainage. The fire was first reported shortly after 5 AM.
The superintendent of Rim of the World School District, Ron Peavy, sent an email stating schools are closed today due to fire conditions.