Trending Topics

3 firefighters injured battling rugged Calif. wildfire

Steep slopes and shifting rocks caused two separate incidents as crews battled the Green fire in the San Bernardino Mountains

By Alex Wigglesworth
Los Angeles Times

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Three firefighters were injured by unforgiving terrain while battling a wildfire in the San Bernardino Mountains on Monday, officials said.

The Green fire was reported shortly before 5:45 p.m. on a steep slope along Highway 38 near Mountain Home Village.

| NEW RESOURCE: The First 5 Minutes: A fireground communications checklist

Within an hour and a half, a San Bernardino County firefighter suffered a terrain-related injury and was hospitalized, said Chloe Castillo , public information officer with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection . That firefighter has since been released, she said.

In a separate incident, two Cal Fire firefighters were injured when a rock became loose and shifted, Castillo said. They remained hospitalized under observation Tuesday morning but were in stable condition, she said.

Additional details about the injuries weren’t available.

The cause of the fire is under investigation. It ignited in a rough and rugged area that’s difficult for firefighters to access, Castillo said. All three injured firefighters were working on hand crews, which specialize in fighting fires in such areas, she said.

The fire was 33 acres and 5% contained as of Tuesday morning, Castillo said. Flames weren’t spreading rapidly but the fire was smoldering, creeping along and eating up the vegetation between the rocks on the ridgeline, she said.

Trending
A Potomac River rescue during an ICE operation has renewed debate over Montgomery County’s Trust Act and firefighters’ role during federal enforcement actions
Investigators say a Grand Haven Township man fatally shot his wife and six children before taking his own life and intentionally setting the family home ablaze
Career fire departments can apply for grants covering up to $350 per firefighter for specialized cancer screenings
The cases against two former Millville Volunteer Fire Company members involved allegations that they chased a Black firefighter with a noose

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times .

©2026 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Company News
Partnership brings real-time aerial intelligence to first responders with automated mapping and hotspot detection