Blue Cut Fire Along I-15 Burns 18,000 Acres; Firefighters Briefly Trapped

DEVORE, CA — A massive fire that broke out along I-15 in San Bernardino County in the Cajon Pass has spread to an estimated 18,000 acres in less than 14 hours — prompting several mandatory evacuations in the Southland affecting tens of thousands of people.

WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE: Blue Cut Fire Latest: 30,000 Acres Burning, 80,000 People Evacuated, No Containment

The fast-moving fire broke out around 10:30 a.m near Kenwood Avenue, and there is considered to be an "eminent threat to rail traffic and structures in the Cajon Pass," according to information posted on the federal government website InciWeb. By 4 p.m., officials were reporting the fire's size at 6,500 acres; at 7:30 p.m. it was considered 9,000 acres, and come 2 a.m., 18,000 acres.

There are approximately 700 firefighters assigned to the incident, which is burning in heavy brush, according to the forest service. So far, two firefighters have suffered minor injuries battling the fire when they became blocked in by the blaze.

"Six firefighters became entrapped by wildfire today while defending homes and assisting evacuations in the Swarthout Canyon area west of Cajon Pass," the San Bernardino County Fire Department reported Tuesday evening. "Firefighters were able to shelter in place within a nearby structure, but two firefighters sustained minor injuries. Both firefighters were transported to a local hospital where they were treated and released and are now back on the fire line defending structures. One SBCoFD fire engine sustained moderate fire damage."

U.S. Forest Service officials are reporting the following mandatory evacuations and road closures for the area, which Cal Fire says affects some 82,000 residents and close to 34,5000 homes. I-15 is closed through both directions in the Cajon Pass.

MANDATORY EVACUATION AREAS: For a map of the Areas Below, Click Here.

• The entire community of Wrightwood
• West of I-15, and West of Hwy 395 and west of Summit Valley
• South of Bear Valley Rd. and East of Caughlin Road.
• North of 138, east of Sheep Creek, south of Phelan Rd. and west of Caliente
• Lone Pine Canyon
• Swarthout Canyon
• West Cajon Valley
• Lytle Creek Canyon

ROAD CLOSURES:

• Highway 138 has been closed from Interstate 15 to Highway 2
• Old Cajon Blvd north of Devore Cutoff
• Lytle Creek at Glen Helen
• Beekley Road from Phelan Road to the 128
• Hwy 38 to Lone Pine Canyon has been closed.
• 15 Northbound at I-215
• 15 Southbound at Ranchero

A Red Cross emergency shelter has been set up for evacuees at the Jessie Turner Community Center located at 15556 Summit Ave. in Fontana. A care and reception center has been set up at Sultana High School, located at 17311 Sultana St. in Hesperia.

The Devore animal shelter is accepting large and small animals. The San Bernardino County fairgrounds in Victorville and the Apple Valley Animal Shelter are also accepting large animals.

With additional reporting by Renee Schiavone

Image 1 courtesy of Violeta Perez.

Image 2 via @LabradorMaximus

Image 3 via San Bernardino County Fire