INCIDENT SUMMARY
Start Date/Time/Cause
The Blue Cut Fire started on August 16, 2016, around 1036 hours PDT from an unknown cause.
Fire Investigators are asking for the Public’s assistance in locating the cause. If you have Tips on how this Wildfire was started, please contact them at 1-800-49-ARSON.
Location
The wildfire is located off of I-15 and Hwy 138, just North of San Bernardino, California. It originally started on Cajon Pass along Old Cajon Boulevard, North of Kenwood Avenue and is West of I-15.
Size
The fire has consumed 37,020 acres.
Fire Fuels
Chaparral, brush and tall grass.
Current Fire Status
Fire crews have successfully reached a 73% containment status.
Via Inciweb:
“Firefighters continued to extinguish hot spots within fire lines. The work of firefighters and utility crews enabled the lifting of the mandatory evacuation of Wrightwood which is now open to residents. Tonight firefighters will continue to work aggressively to complete containment lines and reinforce existing lines. Utility companies will continue work to replace damaged or destroyed infrastructure.”
COMMAND
Unified Command
Currently, there is a CAL IMT 4 team managing the fire and is considered still in Unified with the following agencies: USFS, CAL Fire, San Bernardino County Fire & Sheriff Office and the CA Highway Patrol.
RESOURCES
Fire Response
1782 personnel on scene.
Equipment / Resources
142 engines, 46 crews, 24 dozers, 25 water tenders, 10 air tankers, 2 Very Large Air Tankers (VLATS), 9 Helicopters, including night flying helicopters and the night flying air attack.
INCIDENT COOPERATORS
Agencies that have come together are called Incident Cooperators which are the following:
- American Red Cross
- BLM
- Apple Valley Fire Protection District
- Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) RR
- CAL Fire – Inyo-Monyo-San Bernardino Unit
- CA Conservation Corps, CA Dept of Corrections
- CAL Trans (DOT)
- CA Highway Patrol
- CA Office of Emergency Services (OES)
- Kinder Morgan Gas
- San Bernardino County Animal Control
- San Bernardino FD
- San Bernardino County OES
- SoCAGas, Union Pacific RR.
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT – Preliminary Report
Structures Destroyed
105 single family residences and 216 outbuildings.
Cost-To-Date
$9.6 Million.
EVACUATIONS
Wrightwood residents are being allowed voluntarily to return to their homes.
All other evacuations are still in effect.
CLOSURES
Forest Service
- All forest roads, trails and facilities within or leading into the fire area are closed.
School Districts
- Closed for the rest of the Week
Hesperia U.S.D. & Snowline U.S.D.
Roads
- Highway 138 is closed from Interstate 15 to Beekley Rd.
- State Route 2 closed from LA County Line to the 138.
- Old Cajon Blvd north of Devore.
- Lytle Creek Road at Glen Helen Parkway.
- Lone Pine Canyon Road from East Canyon Drive through Highway 138.
- Swarthout Canyon Road to Cajon Boulevard.
PUBLIC INFORMATION
Law Enforcement Makes Arrests
BlueCut Fire – Arrests within BlueCut Fire Evacuation areas, Deputies continue additional patrol in affected areas
DATE/TIME: Friday, August 19, 2016
INCIDENT: Arrests within Bluecut Fire evacuation areas
LOCATION: Swarthout Canyon, Oak Hills, Phelan
SUMMARY:
The Bluecut Fire has required nearly 35,000 homes to be evacuated. During this evacuation period, deputies arrested three subjects for Looting and Grand Theft Auto. Along with those arrests, deputies also responded to other calls of suspicious persons within the evacuated areas.
On Wednesday, August 17th shortly after 8:00 p.m. deputies responded to a call of ATV’s in the area of Baldy Mesa and Phelan Rd. Deputies made contact with a male, found to be a convicted felon, on the ATV and found him in possession of a handgun and ammunition. He was arrested for Felon in Possession of a Firearm.
On Thursday, August 18th at 10:52 a.m. deputies saw a truck occupied by two males within the evacuated perimeter in Phelan. A vehicle check was conducted and found the males did not reside in the area and tools consistent with those used in burglaries were found in plain view. Both males were arrested for Possession of Burglary Tools.
‘Our focus is the safety of our citizens and protection of their property. We will fully investigate, pursue and arrest anyone involved in criminal activity and re-victimizing the evacuated residents’, stated Sheriff John McMahon.
Approximately 70 deputies, in two-man units, are assigned to patrol the evacuated areas.
Refer: Public Affairs
Phone No. (909)387-3700
John McMahon, Sheriff-Coroner
San Bernardino County Sheriff-Coroner Department
Address/Location
SBSD – Headquarters
655 E 3rd St
San Bernardino, CA 92415
Contact
Emergency: 9-1-1
Non-emergencies: 909-387-3700
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