S-Cal-Mountain Updates 10-2007

Crestline - The California Highway Patrol has closed all mountain roadways, including Highway 18, 330, 138, and 173, to non-emergency upbound traffic. Evacuees are being sent to the Orange Show Fairgrounds, 689 S. E St. San Bernardino, CA, 92408. Animal Control is establishing an emergency evacuation center for animals at Wildwood Park at 40th Street and Waterman in San Bernardino.

Fire Information: Fires are burning at these locations: Courtesy San Bernardino County

Grass Valley Fire - Is burning 1,000 plus acres and with extensive spotting. Structural damage includes 100-plus structures burned Monday and 1,500 threatened. No additional structures burned overnight.Slide Fire - Is burning 4,000-plus acres in the Green Valley Lake area. The fire crossed Highway 18 at Wolverness Road, went down the drainage and crossed Highway 330 in the area of the upper passing lane.

Structural damage includes 20 homes known burned at Monday and up to 100 structures burned overnight.Martin Ranch Fire - Is burning 50-75 acres off of I-215. It is in the City of San Bernardino N of Palm Ave S of I-215 and N of Cajon Blvd. This fire is in the final containment stage.Freeway Fire - Is burning 30 acres. The fire is located south of I-210 and east of I-15 in the vineyards. It is threatening parts of Heritage Village in the City of Fontana and the eastern edge of the City of Rancho Cucamonga. Walker Fire - The Ontario Emergency Operations Center reports the fire is confined to 160 acres of mulch, manure, and compost. Evacuations - Over 1,200 evacuees were sheltered overnight at the Orange Show Shelter San Bernardino. Meals were served to 1,776 evacuees.

Mandatory evacuation orders were ordered during the night for the communities of Crestline, Lake Gregory, Rim Forest and Cedar Glen. Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for the Slide Fire communities of Twin Peaks, Arrowbear, Running Springs and Green Valley Lake.

The communities under mandatory evacuation in the Grass Valley Fire are Deer Lodge Park south of Brentwood, Trinity north of Brentwood, and Lytle Creek Ranger Station.
Click for evacuation Dos and Don'ts

A voluntary evacuation order is in effect in the Highland area north of Highland Avenue, east of Highway 330 and west of Weaver, per the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Courtesy of rimoftheworld.net

Despite poor visibility, firefighters are making good progress on the Slide and Grass Fires today. Poor visiblity has prevented the fixed wing aircraft from making drops, but 14 helicopters are working both the Slide and Grass Fires along with over a thousand fire personnel. The fire has continued to burn toward Big Bear with news helicopters placing it 2 miles to the west of the Big Bear Dam. However, its progress has slowed as it has moved into the burn area for the Butler Fires, and firefighters are optimistic about the eastward progress halting.

Chief Michael Sherman, from the Crest Forest Fire District, stated that the department is "cautiously optimistic" about the progress of the firefighting in the district communities. Crest Forest Fire District serves Crestline, Cedarpines Park, Valley of Enchantment, Rim Forest and Twin Peaks. He stated that the district "has not suffered any structural losses at this time."

Telephone Information:

The San Bernardino County 211 Disaster Assistance Hotline is now available through the 211 phone system.

As of Tuesday 10/23/07 5:30pm

Main area is Running Springs. Mandatory Evacuation Now For All Communities From Crestline To Snow Valley. There is concern for Dart Canyon area of Crestline Cutoff, the N. end of Lake Gregory if winds shift. So far there is a 0% Containment.

At this hour Most of Crestline has not yet been burned, Top Town by Crest Forest Fire Dept. is fine. Valley of Enchantment is fine and Cedar Pines Park is in fine, evacuation in these ares is voluntary.

rimoftheworld.net provides updates when available Additional information is available from the San Bernardino County at: http://www.sbcounty.gov/evocdata.asp

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