More than 100 people were temporarily varied from a road after fleeing the 100 -foot flames of a fire on the brush that exploded on Saturday afternoon near a reservoir in San Bernardino County, which caused road closures and evacuations.
Nicknamed the Lake Fire, the fire exploded shortly before 4 pm in the recreation area of the state of Silverwood Lake, near the 173 highway and Cedar Springs Dam Trail. At 8:48 pm, the fire had increased to 478 acres from 60 acres only a few hours before, according to Cal Fire officials. Fire is zero percent content.
More than 100 people were in the reservoir when the fire exploded and were forced to flee from the flames. Navigators and skiers Jet helped evacuate people outside the beach to another area where they were taken to a highway participation on the 173 highway, just north of the lake. Many people wore beach clothing and flip flops.
Shaun Kirkman and his girlfriend, Amber King, were among those forced to flee.
“I was west of the beach, fishing in vegetation,” Kirkman said. “The fire sounded like velcro, so I kept fishing, then I became stronger. I saw 100 feet flames. I and my girlfriend ran from there.”
Gloria Orejel, spokesman for the department of the San Bernardino County Sheriff, said around 75 to 100 people camped in the area and were forced to evacuate what they had. She said Park Rangers helped transport people to another place on the road. At 8 pm, the group had been taken back to their vehicles.
Evacuation orders have been issued, authorities said. The north of the 138 highway is under an evacuation warning, while south of the road, between interstatal 15 and highway 173, is under a mandatory evacuation.
Shaun Kirkman and his girlfriend Amber King were among the spectators of the evacueted beach of Cleghorn Beach while the fire of the lake burns in the bottom on Saturday at Silverwood Lake, California.
(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)
Cal Fire said he is in unified command with local authorities, including the Fire Department of San Bernardino County and the United States Forest Service. Fire teams have been fighting the fire on both the floor and in the air. The fire is zero contain.
Firefighters are expected to obtain a very necessary relief, since moisture will probably increase from 20% to 45% and racing winds, which have helped boost fire, will decrease to 10 pm.
“However, the conditions will dry again on Sunday with moisture by backing to 20% and the winds ridicule up to 25 mph in the afternoon,” said Cal Fire in a written statement. “It is forecast on Monday to bring louder burst of winds greater than 30 mph, which could challenge suppression efforts.”
Cal Fire officials said the staff is still attentive when monitoring the weather to adapt the operational strategies accordingly. The cause remains under investigation.
On Friday, the fire chiefs of southern California warned that a season of devastating forest fires was probably in low rain and dry conditions.
