Bridge fire now at 47,904 acres — with no containment

The massive Bridge fire, which started in the Angeles Forest five days ago, has burned 47,904 acres in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties by Wednesday morning, Sept. 11, officials said.

It is still at zero percent containment, meaning it could expand in any direction.

No one has been reported injured or killed in the fire, said Nathan Judy, a spokesman for California Interagency Incident Management Team 5.

The Bridge Fire exploded Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 10, pushing north and northeast and lead to evacuations in Wrightwood and Pinion Hills. Authorities closed highways and issued evacuation warnings for San Antonio Heights, Upland and San Dimas, Glendora and La Verne.

Numerous structures in Wrightwood were affected by the fire as well as Mountain High West and East Ski Resort, fire officials said, adding there was report of damage to power infrastructure. However, authorities still don’t know yet how many homes or businesses have been damaged or destroyed.

They will know once it is safe for damage assessment teams go to the areas affected.

On the south end, the fire jumped Glendora Ridge Road up to Sunset Peak on Tuesday, authorities said,

Firefighters protected homes and no communication towers went down, according to fire officials.

An excessive heat and Red Flag warning will continue until 12 p.m. Wednesday

“Wildfires are unpredictable and this is a very dynamic emergency situation. I ask the public to be vigilant and heed any and all evacuation orders,” Los Angeles County Board of Supervisor Kathryn Barger said after fire and law enforcement agencies held a Tuesday night press conference about the Bridge fire.

“Make you, your family, and pets’ safety your top priority. Don’t wait to leave if you are told to go. Squandering even a few minutes may be the difference between life and death,” she said.

The fire started Sunday afternoon in the East Fork area of the Angeles National Forest. The cause remains under investigation.

The following areas remain under evacuation orders: Wrightwood, Pinion Hills from Wrightwood north to Highway 18 and Beekley Road west to Los Angeles County, Lone Pine Canyon from Wrightwood to Highway 138/ Lone Pine Canyon Road south to the forest, Baldy Village, Camp Williams and a treatment center near it .

As of Wednesday morning, an evacuation warning remains for San Antonio Heights and Upland from the foothills south to 23rd Street and parts of La Verne, Claremont and San Dimas.

San Gabriel Canyon and East Fork of the San Gabriel River remain off limits to the public.

The street closures include Highway 138 from Lone Pine Canyon Road to Beekley Road, Angeles Crest Highway (Highway 2)  from Highway 138 to west of Big Pines, Highway 39, East Fork Road, Glendora Ridge Road, Glendora Mountain Road and Mt. Baldy Road at Shinn Road intersection.

Residents can use the following evacuation centers: San Bernardino County Fairgrounds at 14800 7th Street in Victorville, Jessie Turner Health and Fitness Community Center at 15556 Summit Ave. in Fontana and the Pomona Fairplex at 601 W. McKinley Ave. in Pomona (enter Gate 3 at the corner of McKinley and White avenues).

Residents can take pets and livestock to the Devore Animal Shelter at 19777 Shelter Way, in San Bernardino and small animals to Palmdale Animal Care Center at 38550 Sierra Highway in Palmdale and Lancaster Animal Care Center at 5210 W. Avenue I in Lancaster.

Large animals can be taken to the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds at 2551 W. Avenue H in Lancaster. Call 562-706-8581 prior to arrival.

There are 471 fire personnel fighting the Bridge Fire