New Southern California Wildfire Threatens Mountain Communities

A quick-moving wildfire raced toward Southern California mountain communities as authorities warned residents to evacuate.

The Bridge fire exploded on Tuesday, burning into the Wrightwood community and nearby Mountain High ski resort.

The fire has burned 47,288 acres and is 0% contained, according to CalFire. The cause is under investigation.

“Today, the Bridge Fire exhibited extreme fire behavior and spread north and northeast, towards the communities of Wrightwood and Pinon Hills,” an update from CalFire on Tuesday states. “New evacuation orders were issued by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department starting at approximately 4:57 p.m. for these communities.”

It’s one of several fires burning in the state.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department on Tuesday arrested a man in connection with the Line Fire burning east of Los Angeles since last week.

Justin Wayne Halstenberg, a 34-year-old man from Norco, was identified as the suspect who started the fire, the Sheriff’s Department said in a press release.

The Line Fire has burned 34,659 acres and was at 14% contained, with roughly 65,600 structures threatened, according to the latest update by Cal Fire.

Numerous evacuation orders were still in place.

Source: insurancejournal.com