Crews gain containment on Lake Fire in San Bernardino County, evacuation orders downgraded
A rapidly growing brush fire broke out near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County on Saturday.
It was first reported at around 4 p.m. near the recreation area located just south of Hesperia in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains, according to Cal Fire and San Bernardino County Fire Department crews.
They say that the blaze, dubbed the Lake Fire, was burning at a "dangerous rate of spread," prompting them to deploy "significant augmentation of air and ground resources."
By 8:45 p.m., crews said that the fire was about 485 acres and had a dangerous rate of spread through heavy brush. Some structures were reportedly threatened as the flames continued to grow.
As of Monday morning, Cal Fire said crews gained 25% containment over the fire after activity decreased significantly overnight. By the afternoon, they reported that forward progress had been halted.
Firefighters requested evacuations for the area due to the blaze, which had the potential to engulf up to 1,000 acres as it burned to the north. Cal Fire added that dry conditions and wind speeds of 30 miles per hour could challenge suppression efforts Sunday night and into Monday.
Along with Cal Fire and SBCFD, San Bernardino National Forest crews were also aiding in the firefight.
Evacuation orders downgraded
At around 5 p.m., evacuation orders were issued for the Silverwood Lake area, which were carried out by San Bernardino County deputies. A short time later, firefighters announced additional orders for the region south of Highway 138 from Highway 173 to Summit Valley Road.
All evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings at around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Firefighters advised people to avoid using Highway 173 and Highway 138, as fire was burning on both sides of the latter. Highway 138 was also closed from Old Mill to the I-15 Freeway.
An evacuation warning was ordered for the area north of Highway 138 and Highway 173 from Summit Valley Road to Arrowhead Lake Road at 8 p.m.
A second fire also broke out in San Bernardino County on Saturday, torching around 80 acres of vegetation before crews were able to gain the upper hand.
Fires erupt across Inland Empire
The Lake Fire was just one of many to break out across the Inland Empire over the weekend. Around the same time that it was first reported, San Bernardino County crews were also dispatched to the 80+ acre Smiley Fire, which they have now gained the upper hand on.
On Sunday, there were several different fires that also erupted in Riverside County. The Wolf Fire, burning south of Banning, quickly scorched more than 800 acres while the Mandalay Fire forced evacuation orders near homes in Riverside and the Mindy Fire engulfed dozens of acres near Aguanga.
