California Wildfires Consume Numerous Homes and Ski Resort, Reports Reuters

By Jorge Garcia and Andrew Hay

WRIGHTWOOD, California – Three wildfires in Southern California have devastated numerous mountain homes, damaged a ski resort, and forced thousands to evacuate from areas east of Los Angeles.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, approximately 40 homes and cabins were consumed by flames in the Mount Baldy and Wrightwood communities, with damage reported to the lifts at the adjacent Mountain High ski resort.

The Bridge Fire, which originated in San Bernardino County, rapidly expanded to 48,000 acres within 48 hours, becoming the largest wildfire in the state. By Wednesday afternoon, the trio of fires had charred over 105,000 acres of scrub, brush, and forest—an area about one-third the size of Los Angeles.

"This fire is the most dramatic we’ve seen in recent history over such a short time," stated LAFD spokesman Fred Fielding, as the Bridge Fire continued to rage on a nearby hillside.

Local resident Mike Devestern, 55, expressed shock at how quickly the fire approached his home, recalling the chaotic scene as his community fled. "It was like a movie yesterday,” he described. “Everyone was trying to get out of here before they got burnt."

The Airport Fire, affecting Orange and Riverside counties, destroyed many homes in El Cariso Village and Decker Canyon, expanding to over 23,000 acres as reported by authorities. Ryan LaMothe, whose home was among those lost to the fire, said, "There was no more exit; you had to drive through the flames to escape."

In response to the crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency, announcing that federal funds had been secured to combat the fires.

The combination of extremely dry brush and strong winds has intensified the flames, climbing steep canyons and mountainsides amid a severe heatwave linked to climate change. Reports indicate numerous injuries among both civilians and firefighters, although cooler conditions are anticipated later in the week.

Residents have taken precautions, such as sealing gaps around doors, while at least 10 school districts closed due to poor air quality caused by another wildfire, the Line Fire, in San Bernardino County. Authorities have arrested a 34-year-old man for allegedly igniting this blaze on September 5th.

Approximately 18,000 people have been ordered to evacuate from neighborhoods in San Bernardino County that stretch against the mountains. Law enforcement is actively patrolling these mostly deserted areas to deter looting.

While wildfires are a natural part of the region’s ecology, the influx of new residents moving from Los Angeles—many of whom struggle to obtain fire insurance—has complicated firefighting efforts and the management of these fires.

The land burned in California this year has already surpassed double that of 2023, which saw more moisture, according to the state’s Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Nationwide, the U.S. is facing a significant wildfire season with 6.9 million acres burned so far, approaching the average annual total of around 7 million acres over the last decade.

(Reporting by Jorge Garcia in Wrightwood, California, and Andrew Hay in Canon, New Mexico; editing by Donna Bryson, Marguerita Choy, Bill Berkrot, and Diane Craft)