A change in weather brings in colder temperatures and windy conditions. Yesterday, according to this morning’s update from Unified Command, the Bridge Fire has burned 54,690 acres and is 11% contained. There are 2,785 personnel working the fire. Three injuries have been reported with 13 sturctures damaged and 54 structures destroyed. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. NewsPlus has been posting Bridge Fire updates exclusivly on our Facebook page. Now that the fire is winding down (knock on wood) we will begin start posting articles to our website which will also post a link on our Facebook page.
WHAT IS CONTAINMENT?
The fire containment percentage is a key measure used by firefighting teams to communicate progress in battling a wildfire. It refers to the portion of the fire’s perimeter that crews have successfully surrounded or controlled through firebreaks, natural barriers, or other suppression efforts.
For example, if officials report a fire as 50% contained, this means that half of the fire’s perimeter is unlikely to spread beyond those established boundaries. However, containment does not mean that the fire has been fully extinguished in those areas—it simply indicates that the flames are no longer expected to advance further.
This metric helps officials gauge how much work remains in controlling the blaze and provides the public with a sense of how close the fire is to being fully managed.
The windy conditions kept night flying aircraft from flying last night, but firefighters continued to make headway in direct and indirect line construction. The northwest flank of the fire was the most active throught the night and remained the priority for today, September 16, 2024. Crews were able to tie together hand line with dozer line to increase containment. Firefighters are still focusing on direct attack in the areas of Big Pines, Pinon Hills and nearby communities. Today crews worked to reinforce and mop-up containment lines and fall trees that are identified as hazardous. The weather report, as reported in the morning update is as follows: “Although there will be less of a coastal inversion today, a dry cold front will bring southwest winds, much cooler temperatures and higher humidity will persist. However, in the afternoon, winds will shift out of the northwest, testing firefighter containment lines. Morning drizzles below 4,000 feet are possible today, however at the higher elevations’ humidity will be lower and winds will be stronger. Generally favorable winds, temperatures, and humidity will continue until Thursday, however hot and dry conditions will start again Friday.
WHAT IS DIRECT AND INDIRECT LINE CONSTRUCTION?
Direct line construction involves building firebreaks right at the fire’s edge, where crews work to stop the flames from advancing. While this method can be highly effective, it is also more dangerous, as it requires firefighters to engage closely with the active fire. On the other hand, indirect line construction involves creating control lines at a safer distance from the fire, often using natural features like rivers or ridges. In these cases, firefighters may use controlled burns, or backburning, to remove vegetation between the fire and the control line, reducing the fire’s fuel. This indirect approach is typically used when conditions make it too risky to confront the fire directly, such as in steep or heavily forested terrain.
Evacuation orders and warnings still remain in place. However this afternoon at around 2:00 several evacuation orders were downgraded to warnings for L.A. County as well as evacuation warnings downgraded to normal status. You can see these locations HERE or on Watch Duty.
In San Bernardino County southern part of Pinon Hills from Desert Front Road north to Highway 138 and State Hwy 2 west to Los Angeles County line has been downgraded to an evacuation warning. And Evacuation warnings have been lifted for Phelan from Phelan Road south to Lytle Creek and Tumbleweed Road west to Beekley Rd.
Snowline Schools has announced that schools will be closed through Wednesday and they will be assesing wether to extend the closure at that time.
Also a shout out to Joe and the Sheep Creek Water Comany Crew for providing water to the evacuees that have been staying at the Stater Bros. parking lot. They have been making sure that everyone has plety of water for thier RV’s, Campers, etc. Thanks!!!
In the coming days you can probably expect to see more evacuations be lifted, and hopefully soon everyone will be able to return home. However, the timeframe for lifting evacuation orders is still being determined, and officials did not want to speculate as to when evacuation orders may be lifted.
