More than 100 people were temporarily stranded off a highway after fleeing 100-foot flames from a brush fire that broke out late Saturday afternoon near a reservoir in San Bernardino County, prompting road closures and evacuations.
Dubbed the Lake fire, the blaze broke out shortly before 4 p.m. at the Silverwood Lake State Recreation Area, near Highway 173 and Cedar Springs Dam Trail. By 8:48 p.m., the fire had increased to 478 acres from 60 acres just hours earlier, according to Cal Fire officials. The fire is zero percent contained.
More than 100 people were at the reservoir when the fire broke out and were forced to flee the flames. Boaters and jet skiers helped evacuate people out of the beach to another area where they were taken to a roadside turnout on Highway 173, just north of the lake. Many people were wearing beach attire and flip flops.
Shaun Kirkman and his girlfriend, Amber King, were among those forced to flee.
“I was west of the beach, fishing in vegetation,” Kirkman said. “The fire sounded like Velcro so I kept fishing, then it got louder. I saw 100-foot flames. Me and my girlfriend ran out of there.“
Gloria Orejel, spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, said about 75 to 100 people were camping in the area and were forced to evacuate with whatever they had on. She said park rangers helped transport people to another spot on the highway. As of 8 p.m. the group had been taken back to their vehicles.
Evacuation orders have been issued, authorities said. North of Highway 138 is under an evacuation warning, while south of the highway, between Interstate 15 and Highway 173, is under a mandatory evacuation.
Shaun Kirkman and his girlfriend Amber King were among the beachgoers evacuated from Cleghorn Beach as the Lake fire burns in the background on Saturday in Silverwood Lake, Calif.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Cal Fire said it’s in unified command with local authorities including San Bernardino County Fire Department and the U.S. Forest Service. Fire crews have been battling the blaze both on the ground and in the air. The fire is zero contain.
Firefighters are expected to get some much needed relief as humidity will likely increase overnight from 20% to 45% and gusty winds, which have helped drive the fire, will taper off by 10 p.m.
“However, conditions will dry out again on Sunday with humidity dropping back to 20% and winds gusting up to 25 mph in the afternoon,” Cal Fire said in a written statement. “Monday is forecast to bring stronger wind gusts exceeding 30 mph, which could challenge suppression efforts.”
Cal Fire officials said personnel remain vigilant in monitoring the weather to adapt operational strategies accordingly. The cause remains under investigation.
On Friday, Southern California fire chiefs warned that a season of devastating wildfires was likely amid low rainfall and dry conditions.
This story originally appeared on LA Times
