Forest Fire Near Big Bear Forces Evacuations

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY, CA — A forest fire near Big Bear Lake chewed through the San Bernardino National Forest Monday, scorching hundreds of acres and prompting evacuations.

As of about 9 p.m., the blaze dubbed the Radford Fire had burned 200 acres and prompted the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department to order evacuations from Glass Road to South Fork River Road in the Seven Oaks community.

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.

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The fire triggered the closure of SR-38 between Mill Creek Road to Lakewood Road, one of three main routes out of the mountain resort town.

As of about 9 p.m., the 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.