Containment of the Bridge Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument rose to 79% Monday as crews continue efforts to extinguish hot spots and extend lines of cleared vegetation around the burned area.
The fire in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness was 71% contained earlier Monday. It has burned 54,877 acres and threatened 4,409 structures. It has destroyed 81 structures and damaged 17 others, officials said.
The blaze began at 2:12 p.m. on Sept. 8 near East Fork and Glendora Mountain roads, according to forest officials. The fire initially remained relatively small, but exploded in size at the tail end of an extended heat wave on Sept. 10, destroying dozens of structures as it marched into San Bernardino County.
It is the largest active fire in the state.
Road closures were in effect at the following locations:
— Big Pines Highway;
— Big Rock Creek Road;
— Largo Vista Road;
— Mescal Creek Road;
— Panorama Motorway;
— State Route 39 at the base of San Gabriel Canyon;
— Glendora Mountain Road north of Big Dalton Road;
— Westbound state Route 2 at Flume Canyon Road.
There were 1,056 personnel assigned to the fire.
Five firefighters have been injured battling the blaze, officials said. There were no civilian injuries reported.
The fire was being battled in a unified command consisting of Cal Fire San Bernardino, the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, San Bernardino County Fire Department and San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.
The Bridge Fire was one of three large wildfires burning in Southern California. The Line Fire had burned 39,232 acres in San Bernardino County and was 75% contained, while the Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties had burned 23,526 acres and was 89% contained.
The cause of the Bridge Fire has not been determined.