FOREST FALLS – (INT) – It’s likely to be weeks before flood-ravaged Route 38 above Forest Falls in the San Bernardino Mountains is reopened to Big Bear.

Torrents of water created mud and debris slides and washouts from Canyon Drive through Slide Creek and Holy Pines. One near Hawthorne Creek is estimated at 50 feet deep and a quarter mile wide. Additional washouts near South Fork and North Fork Park are under evaluation by Caltrans.

In Forest Falls, eight pieces of heavy equipment and two ground crews are actively clearing debris and restoring access. Road Operations removed 2,000 cubic yards of sediments and debris from the roadways.

In Seven Oaks, 5,000 cubic yards of sediments and debris have been removed from the roadways.

Valley of the Falls Drive has been reopened to emergency width and Potato Canyon has been cleared to a single lane, though closures remain in place until work is completed.

In Oak Glen, skip loaders, dump trucks, graders and contract support are clearing roads and flood channels. 19 pieces of heavy equipment have been active, removing more than 1,770 cubic yards from the Oak Glen Channel and 3,100 cubic yards from Birch Creek Channel.

Going forward, access to Big Bear is open via Highways 330 and 18.

A final assessment of property damage inflicted by the September 18th flash floods and debris flows in Forest Falls and Oak Glen is more than first estimated.

San Bernardino County fire officials found that 14 homes, one commercial and four outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Three homes were declared a total loss. Others had damage ranging from major to less than 10 percent.

A dollar amount of the losses was not issued.

There were no reported injuries, but a toddler drowned at Barstow when a car driven by his father was overtaken in a flash flood.

First responders are back in their fire stations, but with more storms in the forecast offer assurances they are ready to respond to any emergency situations.

Story Date: December 17, 2025