Wildfire — San Bernardino, California

2003-10-25 to 2003-10-31 · near San Bernardino, San Bernardino, California

Wider weather episode

Named the Old Fire, this fire was started by an arsonist on October 25. It consumed 91,200 acres before it was fully contained on November 5, 2003. During the month of October, it destroyed 850 houses, 10 commercial buildings, 1460 power poles, 220 electrical transformers, several miles of highway and utility infrastructure. It also damaged another 35 houses. The entire San Bernardino Mountain range was evacuated. An estimated 80,000 people were evacuated during the first day, and this caused a 28 mile long traffic jam on Highway 18. Eventually the foothill communities of Silverwood Lake, South Hesperia, Oak Hills, Summit Valley, Telephone Canyon, and Las Flores were also evacuated. Smoke, ash, and/or flames from the fire severely impacted and/or halted ground, air, and rail transportation into and out of Southwest California several times. Atmospheric conditions preceding it's start and during the first four days were: high temperatures 90 to 100 degrees, relative humidity ranging from 3 percent during the day to 20 percent at night, and predominate north to northeast winds. The condition and loading of the fuels also caused the fire to grow upwind and up slope against 25 to 50 mph winds. On the first day of the fire, it destroyed 400 houses and 10 commercial buildings. By the second day it had merged with the east flank of the Grand Prix Fire. By the third day when the northeast winds were no longer dominate, it burned over the ridge line, through the Cajon Pass, and down the high desert steppe towards Hesperia. On the fourth day, Wednesday Oct. 29th, an increase in southwest flow caused the southeast flank of the fire to grow rapidly towards Big Bear Lake. Wind gusts over 40 mph were measured across the ridges. Moisture increased rapidly over the next several days and light rain fell along the coastal slopes and ridge tops. As the month of October closed, the fire was still active and hooking around the northwest and northeast side of the San Bernardino Mountain range, threatening to burn up the north slope and into the resort communities.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5335897. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.