Blue Cut Fire - 30,000 Acres
Last updated 8/17/2016 at 12:25pm
The Blue Cut Fire has continued to grow rapidly, quickly spreading from its original five acres Tuesday morning to its current 30,000 acres with no containment. Gov. Jerry Brown has declared a state of emergency.
Despite 1309 personnel being on the scene, high temperatures and heavy fuel are hampering fire fighters efforts. An estimated 34,500 homes are in areas under evacuation warnings. Six San Bernardino County firefighters became entrapped while defending homes and helping with evacuations in the Swarthout Canyon area west of the Cajon Pass.
Officials state that the firefighters were able to take shelter within a nearby structure, however two firefighters sustained minor injuries. Following treatment at a local hospital they returned to their posts defending structures.
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The County has called in 152 engines, 18 crews, 8 air tankers, 2 Very Large Air Tankers (VLATS), and 8 Helicopters, including night flying helicopters. Additional firefighters and equipment have been ordered and will be responding directly to the fire. A National Type 1 Incident Management Team has been requested. Forest Service is in Unified Command with CAL FIRE, San Bernardino County Fire, San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department, and the California Highway Patrol.
Winds from the southwest are predicted to push smoke toward the north and east into the San Bernardino Mountains and the high desert. Depending on evolving fire and weather conditions, smoke impacts will mainly occur in the San Bernardino Mountain areas near and downwind of the fire, although some smoke may settle into the valley areas of San Bernardino County overnight.
Air quality may reach Unhealthy levels in areas directly impacted by smoke.
