917-Acre Radford Fire​ Menaces Big Bear Area

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CA — Evacuation orders remained in place on Big Bear Mountain Tuesday night as the Radford Fire doubled in size and edged closer to the ski resorts and surrounding communities.

The blaze chewed through dried brush and pine trees in the San Bernardino National Forest, growing to 917 acres by sunset Tuesday, according to the U.S. Forest Service. The blaze moved steadily toward the mountain crest overlooking the community of Big Bear Lake, prompting evacuation orders for neighborhoods below Snow Summit. The community of Moonridge was under evacuation warning Tuesday night, putting thousands of residents and vacation cabin owners on edge.

Evacuations

---

• Residents in the Seven Oaks community from Glass Road to South Fork River Road have been forced to evacuate, and SR-38 between Mill Creek Road to Lakewood Road was shut down. The winding mountain road is one of just three main routes out of the Big Bear resort area, limiting evacuation routes for residents and visitors as the wall of flames tears through the drought-stricken forest.
• At 5:30 pm the San Bernardino County Sheriff added an evacuation warning for additional areas from Club View to Angels Camp from Vine to Lassen; and for Summit Blvd to McAllister Rd to Hwy 18 between Fox Farm and Evergreen. San Bernardino Couty Sheriff's and U.S. Forest Service officials posted an interactive map of the closure orders for detailed evacuation information.
• At 4:00 pm the San Bernardino County Sheriff added an evacuation area south of Evergreen /South of Moon Ridge between Summit Blvd and Club View Drive.
• At 11 a.m., the San Bernardino Sheriffs Department issued an evacuation area from Knickerbocker Road west to Castle Rock, and from Pine Knot Road South to the 2N10 road.

“With nightfall upon us, flames from the fire are visible throughout the SanBernardino Valley. Firefighters will remained engaged throughout the night while deputies patrol evacuated areas,” the San Bernardino County Fire Department tweeted.

The fire started north of Highway 38 in the Barton Flats Area, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

The fire is is burning in heavy timber, according to the U.S. Forest Service reported Tuesday morning.

The blaze, burning amid dense shrubs and trees, was reported at about 1:30 p.m. Monday east of Big Bear City in the forested area between the Snow Summit and Bear Mountain ski resorts, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

SEE ALSO: Fast-Moving Brush Fire Breaks Out In Hemet

About 10 engines, 6 water tenders, and four air tankers and helicopters were battling the blaze with 140 firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

Click here for the most up-to-date evacuations and fire maps.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.