By Jason Pesick and Melissa Pinion-Whitt
San Bernardino County Sun (California)
FAWNSKIN, Calif. — Firefighters still battling the Butler II fire had not only mop up but weather on their minds Thursday as high winds blew through the area and rain was headed toward them.
The 14,039-acre blaze was 93 percent contained as of Thursday afternoon.
Fire officials had expected full containment Thursday night but became unsure as a storm approached.
With clouds creeping up the hill, officials braced for possible flooding in the burn areas.
“It’s a big, big safety issue,” U.S. Forest Service spokesman Lee Bentley said.
A flash-flood watch will be in effect this afternoon through Saturday morning in all local mountain areas, and the Arctic Circle portion of Highway 18 between Running Springs and the Big Bear Lake area will be closed through the weekend at the very least.
San Bernardino County fire prevention officers and specialists went door-to-door in Fawnskin handing out fliers telling residents how to protect themselves and their property in case of flooding.
Fires damage the ground and increase the likelihood of flooding.
The county wants to avoid a repeat of the 2003 Christmas Day floods that killed 16 people after the Old Fire.
On Thursday, 53 fire crews scrambled to reinforce existing containment lines and doused hot spots on the fire’s interior, including trees left standing.
Nearly 2,000 firefighters battled the blaze, but some were expected to be sent home.
Cloud cover
Near Running Springs, drizzle fell and fog crept up the San Bernardino Mountains, prompting fire officials to urge crews to drive as slow as 10 mph through the area. A thick cover of clouds settled over the blaze.
Firefighters working steep hillsides also took precautions to avoid falling on the rocks left slippery by the rain.
Winds expected to gust up to 35 mph on the ridgetops kept firefighters on alert on the northern end of the fire, but the wind was estimated to be about 4 to 15 mph everywhere else. Other than a few hot spots firefighters kept a close eye on, most of the blaze was smoldering, Jones said.
But for the first time in nearly a week, there was good news for Fawnskin. The mandatory evacuation was lifted Wednesday night and the town was expected to be open to the public by Thursday evening, Jones said.
On Thursday, it was quiet and sunny in Fawnskin as fire trucks and bulldozers ambled out and residents flowed in.
Some never left, commuting to work in Big Bear City by crossing the lake by boat.
Officials canvassing the area were particularly concerned about Grout Creek, which runs through town, backing up and flooding the lower-lying areas.
Flooding could make it dangerous to cross streets by car and damage homes, said Mike Cary, a fire prevention officer.
Highest elevations
People at the highest elevations should be safe, said the county’s deputy fire marshal, Mike Horton.
Even if snow falls in the mountains instead of rain, the weight of the snow could cause damage and move rocks or other debris, Bentley said.
People should pay attention to stay safe, he added.
Officials are concerned about burning embers falling, rockslides and vegetation coming down the hills.
Fire crews are still parked along the highway, monitoring conditions.
But the mood was calm among some Fawnskin residents who have been through the fire-flood cycle before.
“This house doesn’t flood no matter what,” said Tom Reed, 52, not long after returning to his home.
Reed and a neighbor, 49-year-old Dean Spiegel, chatted about the fire on Thursday.
Spiegel stayed through the fire even though it came within about a half-mile of his home. He said he’s used to trouble on Highway 18, with or without fire.
“We’ll probably have some pretty good mudslides and rockslides out there,” Spiegel said.
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