KTLA

Short-Lived Mandatory Evacuations Lifted Near Big Bear Lake as Holcomb Fire Grows to 1,200 Acres

Smoke rises from the Holcomb Fire on June 19, 2017. (Credit: KTLA)

A wildfire burning in the San Bernardino National Forest northeast of Big Bear Lake that grew to 1,200 acres prompted mandatory but temporary evacuation orders on Tuesday afternoon.

Deputies were going door to door to notify Baldwin Lake residents about the evacuation order in the area northeast of Holcomb Valley Road at Highway 18, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said about 3:30 p.m. Hard road closures were also in effect.

Within about two hours, those orders were lifted, according to the Big Bear Fire Department and Sheriff’s Department. As of 8 p.m. the fire had grown to 1,200 acres and was 10 percent contained, officials reported.

Rolling blackouts were also affecting the area.

Two firefighters suffered heat-related injuries during the fire, the Los Angeles Times reported.

The blaze, which is being called the Holcomb Fire, began about 3 p.m. Monday off Holcomb Valley Road during an ongoing heat wave.

The fire was reported at 850 acres until about 7:45 a.m. Tuesday, when officials updated the figures on the federal InciWeb information page for the incident.

Temperatures reached 89 degrees in the mountainous area Monday, the hottest day of the year so far there and a record for Big Bear on that date.

Mostly chaparral and timber has burned in the blaze as eight air tankers, 18 engines, nine water tenders, 16 hand crews and a dozer continue their efforts to increase containment, officials said.

Highway 18 is closed between Delta Avenue north of Mitsubishi Plant in the area. Van Duesen Canyon Road and Holcomb Valley Road East at Highway 18 are also closed.

The Pacific Crest Trail at Highway 18 is closed, along with  the Doble Trail and Tanglewood Group campgrounds.

A smoke advisory was issued for the high desert area, according to the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

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