Containment of the Bridge Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument rose to 81% Tuesday as crews continued efforts to extinguish hot spots and extend lines of cleared vegetation around the burn area.
The fire in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness has burned 54,878 acres and threatened 4,409 structures. It has destroyed 81 structures and damaged 17 others, officials said.
“This week will see more hot and dry weather across the Southland,” fire officials said in a statement Tuesday morning. “The public may see smoke from within the fire’s perimeter as pockets of unburned fuel burns off. Firefighters will investigate any reports of smoke and extinguish any isolated heat sources.”
The blaze began at 2:12 p.m. 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:
— Eastbound Big Pines Highway at Largo Vista Road (residents only);
— Big Rock Creek Road at Forest Service Road 4N55;
— Mescal Creek Road at Mescal Canyon Road;
— state Route 39 at the base of San Gabriel Canyon (residents only);
— Glendora Mountain Road north of Big Dalton Canyon Road;
— Glendora Ridge Road from Mt. Baldy to Glendora Mountain Road;
— state Route 2 at state Route 39; and
— state Route 2 at Flume Canyon Road westbound.
There were 994 personnel assigned to the fire as of Tuesday morning.
A total of eight injuries have been reported during the firefight.
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.
On Wednesday evening, command of the firefighting operations will be transferred from a California Interagency Incident Management Team back to the Angeles National Forest.
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.