A ferocious bushfire erupted in the San Bernardino mountains yesterday, ripping through more than 30,000 acres of brush in less than 24 hours. As of this morning, the Blue Cut Fire has forced more than 82,000 residents to evacuate.
Image: NBC7 San Diego / Facebook
The fire, which threatens several rural San Bernardino communities, is the latest in a spate of fast-moving, hard-to-contain blazes to strike central and southern California this summer, fuelled by strong winds, bone-dry brush and 37-plus degree days. That list includes the Soberanes fire which, after raging for more than three weeks and consuming 76,000 acres in the Carmel valley, remains only 60 per cent contained, and the Sand Fire, which scorched nearly 40,000 acres in Angeles National Forest before it was brought under control.
More than 80,000 flee from huge California wildfire: https://t.co/04YEhqRBAP #BlueCutFire Pic: @crimeshutterbug pic.twitter.com/9orbByGQVw
— James Cook (@BBCJamesCook) August 17, 2016
Photos: #BlueCutFire explodes and scorches thousands of acres https://t.co/MlzgJMAXhr pic.twitter.com/R0lrv2jSC7
— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) August 17, 2016
Buildings burn, residents flee as out-of-control #BlueCutFire burns 18k acres https://t.co/tShL98qvnm via @latimes pic.twitter.com/D8rYuVPkWt
— Climate Central (@ClimateCentral) August 17, 2016
Additional schools, roads closed as #BlueCutFire continues to burn with 0% containment https://t.co/OaqHFOKJFw pic.twitter.com/5kT8hADz89
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) August 17, 2016
Just In – The #BlueCutFire in the Cajon Pass (San Bernardino County) is now 30,000 acres. Photo: @latimes pic.twitter.com/4k8XO3iCbo
— CAL FIRE PIO Berlant (@CALFIRE_PIO) August 17, 2016
Cadaver dogs are being brought in to search for victims caught in the #BlueCutFire #abc7 pic.twitter.com/YkgZJLo1Vt
— John Gregory (@abc7johngregory) August 17, 2016
#BlueCutFire burns 30,000 acres (47 sq mi) in 1 day! Homes off Hwy 138 torched, damage assessment to begin @CBSLA pic.twitter.com/Fgqb4HmQU2
— JASMINE VIEL (@jasmineviel) August 17, 2016
#BlueCutFire acreage updated to 30,000 acres, 0% contained. @SBCOUNTYFIRE @sbcountysheriff @CHPInland @CALFIREBDU @Caltrans8
— San Bernardino NF (@SanBernardinoNF) August 17, 2016
The Blue Cut Fire is an evolving situation. A full list of mandatory evacuation areas and road closures can be found on the Forest Service’s Incident Information System. The fire is considered to be zero per cent contained.