Runaway San Bernardino Wildfire Coming Under Control

SAN BERNARDINO, California, September 17, 2007 (ENS) - Cooler temperatures and calm winds have helped firefighters gain control of a raging wildfire in the San Bernardino National Forest that forced the evacuation of more than 2,000 people Friday and Saturday.

The Butler 2 Fire was reported at 1:21 pm on Friday northwest of Big Bear Lake and rapidly spread to consume 15,000 acres. The wildfire is now considered to 53 percent contained and some 2,500 firefighters are working to control the blaze.

Although the fire slowed down this morning, firefighters still fear that the dry conditions and gusty winds are extremely likely to set it running again.

There are 68 hand crews, 250 engines, 17 helicopters, 12 fixed wing aircraft, 12 bulldozers, and 33 watertenders in operation, and fire managers say their crews are working in difficult terrain while the fire crackles through grass, brush, and timber.

The cause of the fire is not known and an investigation is underway.

Mandatory evacuations remain in effect for Fawnskin, where 600 structures are threatened, although the blaze had stopped moving towards the area on Sunday.

About 340 residents of the Fawnskin area were still out of their homes today, but another 1,200 who fled their homes in Green Valley Lake have returned, said Forest Service spokesperson Norma Bailey.

Voluntary evacuations are in effect for the Green Valley Lake area, where evacuation was mandatory on the weekend. Lucerne Valley, Running Springs and Arrowbear are also still in voluntary evacuation status. Six schools in the Bear Valley Unified School District canceled classes Monday.

Highway 18 remains closed between Running Springs and Big Bear Lake Dam.

About 1:10 this afternoon, a single engine air tanker assigned to the Butler 2 Fire had an internal engine warning light come on and lost power. The pilot determined that he did not have enough time to land at Big Bear Airport and initiated an emergency landing in a vacant field off of Fox Farm Road.

At the end of the landing the wheels collapsed and the aircraft came to a stop on its belly and wing. The pilot walked away from the aircraft with no injuries.

The site was secured and emergency medical support was provided by Big Bear Lake and Big Bear City. The accident is being investigated by the San Bernardino County Sheriff.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on Saturday declared a state of emergency for San Bernardino County, clearing the way for state government assistance for fire-related costs.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2007. All rights reserved.