By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY
Senior Writer
A stubborn brush fire of unknown origin, first reported at 3:52 p.m. on Saturday, June 28, consumed some 478 acres of tinder-dry brush and chaparral east of the Cajon Pass, near Silverwood Lake.
The blaze – propelled by strong, dry, wind-driven conditions – reportedly prompted widespread evacuations and road closures, as well as a major power outage affecting thousands of residents in the nearby mountain communities. Meanwhile, evacuees from the Silverwood Lake area were rerouted eastward on Highway 138 toward Crestline, which resulted in a major traffic jam when dozens of fire engines were encountered, heading southwestward to battle the flames erupting from the hillside above the lake.
At the same time, Highway 138 was closed from Old Mill Road to the I-15 freeway, while Highway 173 was closed at Highway 138 to Summit Valley. Cal Fire spokesperson Alison Hesterly reported that wind was pushing the blaze northwestward on Saturday night while crews attacked the fire on the ground and with aircraft.
As of Saturday evening, the Lake Fire had burned 478 acres with no containment in sight. The incident was in unified command with the San Bernardino Mountains branch of the U.S. Forest Service, Cal Fire San Bernardino Unit, San Bernardino County Fire Department and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department, with fire crews working throughout the night to build containment lines to protect nearby communities.
Power was restored to the mountain communities around 10 a.m. on Sunday. No injuries were reported at press time on Monday.
Editor’s note: As of Monday morning, the fire was 25 percent contained per Cal Fire.
A plume of smoke rises above Silverwood Lake on Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Douglas W. Motley)
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