Bridge fire in Angeles National Forest expands to 34,000 acres; Mount Baldy and Wrightwood communities under evacuation order

ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST, Calif. (KABC) — Authorities declared a state of emergency after the Bridge Fire reached large proportions on Tuesday, spreading from Los Angeles County to San Bernardino County. The massive 34,000-acre blaze has already destroyed several homes and is threatening the community of Wrightwood.

The fire, which started in the San Gabriel Canyon area, spread to over 34,000 acres without being contained at all. The fire raced toward Mount Baldy and Wrightwood throughout the day, prompting mandatory evacuation orders.

San Bernardino County declared a state of emergency late Tuesday and will ask the Board of Supervisors to approve the measure at an emergency meeting.

“San Bernardino County will provide all necessary resources to protect and assist in the recovery of our communities and residents,” the county said in a statement.

According to Angeles National Forest officials, the wildfire was reported around 3 p.m. Sunday near East Fork and Glendora Mountain roads. At the time of the first report, 30 acres were burning, but by 7 a.m. the next morning, the fire had spread to 240 acres.

“Our greatest concern, of course, is the community of the Village of Mount Baldy, the foothill communities from Claremont to Azusa and the residents of the East Fork,” said John Miller of the U.S. Forest Service.

Evacuation orders due to bridge fire

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued for the communities of Mount Baldy and Wrightwood. A total of 30 homes in Wrightwood and Palmdale had to be evacuated.

“We are urging anyone under an evacuation order to leave the area immediately,” said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone. Evacuation centers have been set up at the LA County, San Bernardino County and Antelope Valley fairgrounds.

As the southeastern portion of the Bridge Fire continues to burn, an evacuation warning was issued for northern Claremont Tuesday evening as a precaution, the City of Claremont said.

Strong winds and low humidity are helping the fire spread, Cal Fire said. Firefighters also hope that the upcoming cooler weather will slow the fire enough to give them the upper hand.

“We're really hoping that these nighttime recovery periods, when temperatures drop and humidity increases, will help us get the fire better under control,” Miller said.

Which roads are closed?

East Fork Road at Highway 39 was closed, as were Glendora Mountain Road and Glendora Ridge Road. The California Highway Patrol also closed Highway 39 at the mouth of the canyon due to traffic congestion. Mount Baldy Road was also closed at Shinn Road.

Forest visitors would be evacuated from the area, the Angeles National Forest said on social media.

“The safety of our community members is our top priority and we will continue to assist residents in any way we can. We urge all residents of the affected areas who have been asked to evacuate to follow those orders. If we ask you to evacuate, there is no property worth risking your life for,” said Los Angeles County Sheriff Robert Luna.

Air quality in the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire has been rated “unhealthy” due to the Bridge Fire and nearby Line Fire, with residents urged to stay indoors or wear a mask when outdoors.

No injuries were reported. The cause of the fire was not immediately known.

City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.