Los Angeles Wildfires Slow but Still Pose Threat to Suburbs, Reports Reuters

By Andrew Hay

Wildfires that have charred numerous mountain homes near Los Angeles experienced a slowdown on Thursday due to cooler temperatures, although authorities cautioned that the threats to suburbs remained.

The fires, fueled by extreme heat, strong winds, and extremely dry vegetation, have been unprecedented in speed, consuming over 110,000 acres across the region—an area approximately twice the size of Seattle.

The Bridge Fire, which is currently California’s largest wildfire, ravaged communities in the San Gabriel Mountains, situated less than 40 miles northeast of downtown Los Angeles. This area has seen an influx of residents priced out of the city, leading to the construction of homes in these mountainous regions.

Spanning 51,000 acres, the Bridge Fire has destroyed over 40 homes and cabins in locales such as Mount Baldy and Wrightwood, and has caused damage to ski lifts at the Mountain High ski area.

As temperatures in Los Angeles dipped to 81°F, firefighters anticipated making substantial progress due to the marine influence bringing moisture levels up.

In a related development, Justin Wayne Halstenberg, a 34-year-old delivery driver, was charged with arson and causing great bodily injury for allegedly igniting the Line Fire near San Bernardino, which has burned 37,000 acres of mountainous terrain overlooking the city. Halstenberg is currently detained, with no attorney listed for him.

The Line Fire has led to the destruction of a home in Running Springs, injuring a firefighter and two civilians, and prompting the evacuation of approximately 5,490 homes. Two individuals were arrested on suspicion of intending to commit looting.

Additionally, southeast of Los Angeles, the Airport Fire has resulted in home destruction in the Elsinore Mountains and has injured at least 10 people. This 23,000-acre blaze is thought to have originated from a spark produced by machinery that was moving boulders to restrict access to the wilderness area.

Emergency agencies stated that the Airport Fire poses a significant threat to communities in Orange County and Riverside County.

California has been scrambling for additional firefighting resources amid a record-setting fire season across the United States, which has created a nationwide shortage of firefighting personnel and aircraft.

Scientists indicate that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and severity of wildfires in the western United States. After a series of wet winters, California’s mountains have become susceptible to fire, with grasses and scrub flourishing before succumbing to the recent high temperatures.

"We are witnessing fires that are larger and burning more land than we have seen in the past," remarked Robert Foxworthy, a spokesperson for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, who has over two decades of firefighting experience.