A destructive wildfire in San Bernardino County exploded in size overnight to 25,600 acres as it continued to burn out of control Wednesday.
The Blue Cut Fire remained 4 percent contained, and federal officials described the threat to public safety, rail traffic and structures in the Cajon Pass, Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Oak Hills and surrounding areas as “imminent.”
Click here for the latest information on the Blue Cut Fire.
Nearly 35,000 homes are under evacuation orders, impacting more than 82,000 residents, according to the wildfire’s federal InciWeb page. Additionally, a number of road closures are affecting traffic and the ability to travel through the area, including the closure of a stretch of the southbound 15 Freeway.
Mandatory evacuations are in effect for the following area:
- The entire community of Wrightwood
- Wrightwood from the San Bernardino County line to Jackson Lake
- The areas west of the 15 Freeway, west of Highway 395 and west of Summit Valley
- South of Bear Valley Road and east of Caughlin Road
- East of Sheep Creek, south of Phelan Road and west of Green Road, including the Desert Front Road area
- Lone Pine Canyon
- Swarthout Canyon
- West Cajon Valley
- Lytle Creek Canyon
Click here to view maps of each area affected by evacuation orders.
Evacuation centers have been set up at:
- Jessie Turner Community Center
15556 Summit Ave., Fontana - Sultana High School
17311 Sultana St., Hesperia
Animals can be taken to:
- Apple Valley Animal Shelter (large and small animals)
22131 Powhatan Rd., Apple Valley - Devore Animal Shelter (small animals)
19777 Shelter Valley, San Bernardino, 800-472-5609 - Victorville Fairgrounds (large animals)
14800 Seventh Ave., Victorville
The following roads are closed:
- Northbound 15 Freeway at the 215 Freeway set to re-open as of 10:30 p.m.
- Southbound 15 Freeway at Ranchero
- Highway 395 at Joshua
- Highway 138 from the 15 Freeway to State Route 2
- State Route 2 from the Los Angeles County line to Highway 138
- Highway 138 between the county line and Highway 173
- Old Cajon Boulevard north of Devore Cutoff
- Lytle Creek at Glen Helen
- Beekley Road from Phelan Road to State Route 138
- Highway 38 to Lone Pine Canyon
The California Highway Patrol recommends motorists take the alternate roads to get around the closures:
- From the Valley to the High Desert: 10 Freeway east to Highway 62, north to Highway 247, north to Highway 18 west
- From High Desert to the Valley: Highway 18 east to Highway 247 south to Highway 62 south to the 10 Freeway west
The following school districts announced all campuses will be closed Thursday due to the fire and deteriorating air quality:
- Apple Valley Unified School District
- Barstow Unified School District
- Helendale School District
- Silver Valley Unified School District
- Hesperia Unified School District
- Adelanto Elementary School District
- Oro Grande School District
- Snowline Joint Unified School District
- Victor Elementary School District
- Victor Valley Union High School District