By Melissa Pinion-Whitt and Jason Pesick
San Bernardino County Sun (California)
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All Rights Reserved
SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — The spurts of fire that broke out in the region this week highlighted fears that this fire season could be especially destructive.
“The potential is there for this to be one of the most severe fire seasons,” said California Department of Forest and Fire Protection spokesman Bill Peters.
By Wednesday afternoon, however, most of the fires were either out or on their way to being fully contained.
The Little Mountain Fire that threatened north San Bernardino homes on Tuesday was extinguished. In Los Angeles, firefighters were getting the upper hand Wednesday on the Griffith Park fire. Officials expect the fire to be snuffed today.
Firefighters on Wednesday morning extinguished the 300-acre wildfire on Little Mountain that prompted the evacuation of dozens of residents Tuesday afternoon.
Nearly 170 firefighters battled the blaze, which started shortly after 5 p.m. at Marshall Boulevard and Miramonte Drive.
San Bernardino firefighters worked with firefighters from the county, the U.S. Forest Service and strike teams from Chino Valley, Rancho Cucamonga and Upland and other area cities.
Residents in 50 to 60 homes who voluntarily evacuated the area began returning to them about 9 p.m., said San Bernardino fire spokesman Mike Arvizo.
Firefighters kept the blaze from destroying any homes, but one was slightly damaged. A firefighter hiking the steep terrain fell while battling the blaze, suffering a back injury. The San Bernardino firefighter was not hospitalized, Arvizo said. There were no other reported injuries.
The fire was contained around 11 p.m. and out by 5 a.m. Wednesday. The cause was under investigation.
Another small fire Wednesday ignited a 20-by-20-foot pile of logs, leaves and other foliage at I and Congress streets at about 1 p.m. Wednesday along Interstate 215, slowing traffic because of smoke and rubberneckers. The cause of the blaze was under investigation, said San Bernardino fire Capt. Eric Esquivel.
Firefighters knocked down the fire in about 10 minutes.
In Los Angeles, the Griffith Park fire was about 50 percent contained by Wednesday afternoon.
An estimated 817 acres in the 4,200-acre park were scorched as of late Wednesday, including the landmark Dante’s View terraced garden. Towering flames also threatened the newly renovated observatory, as well as the Greek Theatre, and forced the evacuation of hundreds of families from nearby Los Feliz.
At a noon news conference, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said firefighters expected to extinguish the blaze in the next 24 hours.
Streets in the area remained closed, although residents were being allowed to return to their homes. Attractions including Griffith Observatory and the L.A. Zoo remained closed. The park was expected to remain closed at least until today.
Albert Torres, the city’s chief park ranger, said the 52 miles of equestrian and hiking trails at the park appear to be intact.
No homes were destroyed, although one was damaged when its shake-shingle roof caught fire.
The cause of the fire was under investigation. An unidentified 20-year-old man was questioned after he was discovered near the ignition point of the fire.
Los Angeles fire Capt. Antoine McKnight said the man was cited for smoking in a brush-fire area.
“We are not prepared to say whether it’s arson or accidental, at this time,” McKnight said about the blaze.
Riverside County dealt with at least two fires Wednesday.
One south of Corona started Tuesday and burned 990 acres by 10 a.m. on Wednesday, said Riverside County fire Capt. Fernando Herrera. No structures were damaged, and by Wednesday afternoon the fire was 90 percent contained, he said.
On Tuesday, authorities cited Riverside resident Nick Valdez. He is suspected of starting the fire with the hot exhaust from his motorcycle. He was riding on private property at the time, officials said.
A fire in Lake Elsinore burned 25 acres Wednesday near Interstate 15. It was 50 percent contained by Wednesday afternoon. No structures were threatened, and there were no injuries as of Wednesday afternoon, said.
During the winter and spring, the CDF prepared for the fire season by enforcing requirements that vegetation be broken up near structures, Peters said, adding that the agency will hire 24 more seasonal firefighters in San Bernardino County on Monday.
On Wednesday, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger issued an executive order mobilizing firefighters and equipment to fight wildfires.
The order also instructs a number of state agencies to work with federal and local agencies to fight and prevent fires.
The lack of rain and dry vegetation could make the fire season especially bad, Peters said, but there are steps people can take to prevent that from happening.
It is important for people to be careful when using any kind of open flame and to call 9-1-1 if they see a fire or something suspicious near a fire, he said.
Even a chain saw or an off-road vehicle can cause a fire, he said, and anyone responsible for starting a fire could have to pay the cost of putting it out.
“You might end up paying money for the rest of your life,” he said.