INLAND EMPIRE – (INT) – Containment lines around three smoldering wildfires are steadily closing.

The arson-caused Line Fire has topped 40-thousand acres and is half-contained in the San Bernardino Mountains above Highland. In its wake is the loss of the Keller Peak Fire Lookout and four other damaged buildings.

The Bridge Fire has come to a stop after cutting a 55-thousand acre swath through the Angeles National Forest into San Bernardino County. It is about one-fourth surrounded.

Although the Airport Fire is the smallest of the three conflagrations, it may have been the most destructive. 115 homes and the buildings of three businesses were destroyed in the Santa Ana Mountains of Riverside and Orange counties.

CalFire says with higher humidity, cooler temperatures and another shot at rain on Thursday prospects for containment are looking brighter.

Meanwhile, damage assessments continue, evacuations are being downgraded and rehabilitation of the fire-scarred burn zones is being planned.

Story Date: September 19, 2024