Wrightwood, California: Three wildfires in Southern California have ravaged dozens of mountain homes, destroyed parts of a ski resort, and triggered mass evacuations in towns and cities east of Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The fires, affecting the Mount Baldy and Wrightwood areas, have consumed around 40 homes and cabins, and damaged ski lifts at the nearby Mountain High resort, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The largest of the blazes, named the Bridge Fire, has surged to 48,000 acres (19,000 hectares) within just 48 hours, making it the largest wildfire in the state. By Wednesday afternoon, the three fires combined had scorched over 105,000 acres, roughly one-third the size of Los Angeles.
“This fire has been the most dramatic in recent history over a single day,” said LAFD spokesman Fred Fielding, as flames continued to advance on a nearby hillside.
Wrightwood resident Mike Devestern, 55, expressed shock at the fire’s rapid approach and the ensuing chaos.
“It was like a movie yesterday,” he said. “Everybody … trying to get out of here before they got burnt.”
In response to the crisis, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency and secured federal funding to aid firefighting efforts.
The fires have been fueled by dry conditions and strong winds during a severe heatwave, conditions linked to climate change. The fires have resulted in over a dozen injuries to both civilians and firefighters, with cooler weather expected later this week.
As smoke from another blaze, the Line Fire, which is also burning in San Bernardino County, envelops the region, at least 10 school districts have closed. Authorities have arrested a 34-year-old man suspected of igniting the Line Fire on September 5.
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Approximately 18,000 residents in San Bernardino County, including areas like East Highlands, have been ordered to evacuate. Law enforcement is patrolling the largely empty neighborhoods to prevent looting.
While wildfires are a natural part of California’s ecosystem, the influx of new homeowners, often priced out of Los Angeles and struggling to obtain fire insurance, complicates firefighting efforts.
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So far this year, California has seen double the land burned compared to 2023, a year with more moisture, according to CAL FIRE data. Nationwide, the U.S. has experienced a significant wildfire season with 6.9 million acres burned to date, approaching the decade-long annual average of around 7 million acres, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
