Wildfire — San Bernardino County Mountains, California

2024-09-08 to 2024-09-30 · San Bernardino County Mountains, California

Event narrative

The Bridge fire began at 215 pm PDT September 8th, 2024, suspected to have started by lightning. Excessive heat occurred leading up to the day of the wildfire. The wildfire grew to 35,000 acres on Tuesday September 10th, burning along the ridgeline of the San Gabriel mountains up to 8000 feet MSL and destroying 20 homes in Mt Baldy and 3 in Wrightwood during the evening and night of September 9th. The wildfire created wind gusts up to 40 mph allowing it to become out of control in Wrightwood. There was a Red Flag warning in effect for onshore west winds in the San Gabriel mountains of LA County. The wildfire burned up to to 56,000 acres. 81 structures were destroyed. Defensible space was credited for minimizing the damages to homes. Mountain High ski area recorded the wildfire on September 10th when it burned over the ridge and through the resort. Videos showed the snowmaking (water hydrants) were used to protect structures. 3 resort structures were destroyed along with powerlines but the main lodges were saved.

Wider weather episode

Following and during a record heat wave, 3 large wildfires erupted and became out of control burning rapidly. The Airport fire started in Trabuco Canyon in Orange County on the south portion of the Santa Ana mountains. The Bridge fire started in the San Gabriel mountains and spread into Wrightwood and Mt Baldy. The Line fire started in Highland and burned for weeks up the Santa Ana River drainage of the San Bernardino mountains. The wildfires were between 23,0000 and 55,000 acres and caused millions of dollars of damage and expenses to fight.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1218727. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.