As hundreds of firefighters battled a raging wildfire on Thursday in the steep mountains north of Los Angeles, cooler weather sweeping into Southern California aided their fight, fire officials said.
The so-called Bridge Fire, which is burning in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness in the Angeles National Forest, saw “minimal” growth on Thursday as winds died down and humidity increased, officials said in their most recent update, posted at about 4 p.m. Thursday.
Sparks fly from a burning tree as the Bridge Fire burns in the hills of Big Pines, near Wrightwood, California, on September 12, 2024.
Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty Images
But the fire’s containment was still at zero percent as of that update, fire officials said. The blaze by then had spread to about 51,580 acres that straddled Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties.
“Firefighters made great progress on the ground, aided by aircraft to attack the fire aggressively 24 hours per day,” the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said.
Firefighters cut and estinguish the fire in a tree on the road as the Bridge Fire burns in the Big Pines hills near Wrightwood, California, on September 12, 2024.
Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty Images
About 480 firefighting personnel were working to contain the fire, which was ignited Sunday and was the largest of several active blazes in Southern California.
The three largest blazes burning on Thursday covered a total of more than 110,000 acres and threatened tens of thousands of structures, according to fire officials.
The Line Fire in San Bernardino County was spread over about 37,207 acres with 21% containment, Cal Fire said. That fire had destroyed or damaged by early Friday at least four structures, with some 65,000 others threatened, officials said.
And the Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties covered about 23,453 acres with about 5% containment, Cal Fire said.
A hotshot firefighter walks by flames as they return after digging trenches in a canyon to slow down the progression of the Bridge Fire as it burns in the hills of Big Pines, near Wrightwood, California, on September 12, 2024.
Etienne Laurent/AFP via Getty Images
Officials with San Bernardino County announced further evacuations for the Bridge Fire late on Thursday, broadening their order near The Baldy Village to including several additional neighborhoods from San Antonio Heights to Wrightwood and east to Cucamonga Peak.
The temperature in Los Angeles was expected to peak on Friday and Saturday at about 78 degrees Fahrenheit, before further cooling next week, according to the National Weather Service.
ABC News’ Marilyn Heck, David Brennan and Bill Hutchinson contributed to this report.
The California Bridge Fire, which has been raging for several days, has seen some relief as cooler weather has helped slow the growth of the wildfire. The fire, which started near the town of Bridgeport in the Sierra Nevada mountains, has already burned over 10,000 acres of land and forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes.
The cooler temperatures and higher humidity levels have allowed firefighters to make progress in containing the blaze. However, the fire is still only 5% contained and officials warn that the situation could change rapidly if weather conditions worsen.
Evacuations are still ongoing in several areas as the fire continues to threaten homes and infrastructure. The Red Cross has set up evacuation centers to provide shelter and support for those displaced by the fire.
Firefighters are working around the clock to battle the blaze, using helicopters, air tankers, and ground crews to try and contain the fire. The rugged terrain and difficult access to some areas have made it challenging for firefighters to fully extinguish the flames.
Officials are urging residents in the affected areas to stay informed and be prepared to evacuate if necessary. They are also reminding people to follow evacuation orders and not to return to their homes until it is safe to do so.
The California Bridge Fire serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threat of wildfires in the state, especially during the dry summer months. Climate change has also been cited as a contributing factor to the increase in wildfires in recent years.
As the situation continues to evolve, residents are advised to stay vigilant and follow instructions from local authorities. The safety of residents and firefighters remains the top priority as efforts continue to contain and extinguish the California Bridge Fire.
