CALIFORNIA | HOLCOMB FIRE | 4

/ NW Fire Blog (TM)

NEAR BIG BEAR, CALIFORNIA

INCIDENT SUMMARY –

A 2nd Alarm wildfire is burning near Big Bear in California that started from an unknown cause now being reported around 1500 hours.

Just moments ago, (1900 hours) that the AA has just reported fire has consumed up to 1000 acres with a 0% containment status.

The fire behavior is said to be extreme with a high rate of spread.

RESOURCES

The Incident Command Post (ICP) is located at Baldwin Lake.

Resources include: 18 Engines, 9 Water Tenders, 16 Hand-crews, 1 Dozer, 8 Air Tankers, including tanker 911 (VLAT), 6 Helicopters. The Night Flying Air-Attack has been ordered.

EVACUATIONS

There are conflicting releases from various sources, saying that there were voluntary evacuations of several areas – while another says there are no evacuations at this time.

Holcomb Fire S/E of Big Bear

Photo Credit: Audrey Scranton via Inciweb

CLOSURES

Roads 

* Highway 18 is closed between Baldwin Lake Road north to the Mitsubishi Plant Road.
*Van Duesen Canyon 3N16 at 3N09 Road.
*Holcomb Valley Rd East closed at Hwy 18 3N69 at Hwy 18.

Trails

*Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) at Hwy 18 to Van Dusen Road

Campgrounds

*Doble Trail Campground
*Tanglewood Group Campground

FIRE WEATHER

1940 PDT:  81*F temps with 32% RH.  Winds are 3 mph.  the dewpoint is 48%.  The Heat Index is 80*F and there is a 10 mile visibility.

A Heat Advisory is in effect until Wednesday, 9:00 PM PDT. ( Source: U.S. National Weather Service )

* High Temperatures…95-106*F.

* Impacts…Those working or spending time outdoors, the
elderly, children, and those unaccustomed to excessive heat
will be most susceptible to dangerous heat illness.

* Outlook…Lower temperatures are expected Thursday and Friday,
then slight increase in temperatures this weekend.

How to Prepare

A Heat Advisory means that a period of hot temperatures is
expected which will create a situation in which heat illnesses
are possible.

  1. Drink plenty of fluids
  2. Stay in an air conditioned room
  3. Stay out of the sun
  4. Check up on relatives and neighbors

OBSERVATIONS

The fire can been seen from Victor Valley and from the Big Bear Golf Course.  Some have reported seeing black smoke from Gold Mountain, North of Big Bear Valley toward Baldwin Lake.

HAZARDS 

FIRE IC has been notified of dynamite in a local Holcomb Valley mine located in the San Bernardino Mountains which is about 5 miles North of Big Bear Lake. Years ago, the Holcomb Valley area was deemed the site of the most gold mines in Southern California.  FIRE IC will notify firefighters to stay away from this area.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Hashtags

We are reporting this fire as #BigBearFire but there are other media outlets using #BigBearFire as well.

Shoutouts

USA, UK, Canada, India, Vietnam, Brazil, Tanzamania, Hungary, Spain, Lithuania, Denmark, Bangladesh, Ireland and Nigeria.

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