Bridge Fire

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Bridge Fire
The Bridge Fire seen from the air on September 9
Date(s)	September 8, 2024 (2024-09-08) – present (4 days)
Location	Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, Southern California, United States
Coordinates	34°14′20″N 117°45′43″W / 34.239°N 117.762°W / 34.239; -117.762
Statistics
Perimeter	3% contained
Burned area	52,800 acres (21,367 ha; 83 sq mi; 214 km2)
Impacts
Deaths	0
Non-fatal injuries	0
Structures destroyed	39
Ignition
Cause	Under investigation
Map
The Bridge Fire's mapped perimeter as of September 11, 2024
The general location of the fire in Greater Los Angeles Show map of the Los Angeles metropolitan area General location of the fire in California Show map of California

The Bridge Fire is an active wildfire in the Angeles National Forest, currently burning in Southern California's Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. The fire began on September 8. As of September 12, 2024^[update], the fire had burned 52,800 acres (21,400 hectares) and is 3 percent contained. The cause of the fire is not yet known. It is the third-largest wildfire of California's 2024 fire season.

The Bridge Fire is burning in an area with little to no recent fire history.^[1] Two prior wet winters contributed to the growth of vegetation in the fire area. Weather conditions, including gusty southwest winds and low relative humidity, led to a Red Flag Warning to be issued^[2] and allowed for rapid fire growth.^[3]

The Bridge Fire is burning simultaneously with the 36,481-acre (14,763 ha) Line Fire in San Bernardino County and the 23,140-acre (9,360 ha) Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside Counties.^[4] The three concurrent wildfires have strained the capacities of Southern California fire agencies, leading them to request additional resources from Northern California and other states.^[5][6]

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) records the Bridge Fire as having started at 2:12 p.m. PDT on Sunday, September 8, 2024.^[7] The cause of the fire is under investigation.^[5] It ignited in the vicinity of East Fork Road and Glendora Mountain Road,^[8] near Cattle Canyon Bridge,^[9] in San Gabriel Canyon. It grew to 800 acres (320 ha) by early Sunday evening.^[8] At 7:15 p.m., an evacuation order was issued for two populated areas in the East Fork San Gabriel River canyon: Camp Williams and River Community.^[10][11]

In the morning on Monday, September 9, the fire had burned 1,255 acres (508 ha).^[9] At 5:30 p.m. on Monday, September 9, mandatory evacuation orders were issued for Mount Baldy Village, extending between the San Antonio Dam and Mount Baldy Resort. By that night, the fire had burned 2,995 acres (1,212 ha). Firefighters were concentrated on halting any southward progression of the fire, and protecting homes in the East Fork San Gabriel River area.^[12]

On Tuesday, September 10, the fire "exploded" to the north and northeast and grew considerably, from about 4,000 acres (1,600 ha) to more than 34,000 acres (14,000 ha), within a matter of hours.^[13] It continued to grow overnight, burning an additional 13,000 acres (5,300 ha) on its northern and eastern flanks as firefighters prioritized protecting buildings in Wrightwood, Piñon Hills, and Mount Baldy Village.^[14]

By Wednesday, September 11, 480 firefighting personnel were assigned to the Bridge Fire.^[11]

As of September 12, 2024^[update], the fire has burned 51,792 acres (20,959 ha) and is zero percent contained.^[7] It is the third-largest wildfire of 2024 in California.^[4]

The state of California requested a Fire Management Assistance Grant—which allows the federal government to cover a certain percentage of eligible firefighting costs—from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) on September 10; FEMA granted the request at 9:18 p.m.^[15] Los Angeles County supervisor Lindsey Horvath signed a declaration of a local emergency.^[11]

The fire has prompted evacuation orders for the communities of Camp Williams, River Community, Wrightwood, and Mount Baldy.^[8][16]

The Bridge Fire has destroyed at least 39 buildings: 20 homes were lost in Mount Baldy Village, 13 homes were lost in Wrightwood, and six cabins burned in the mountain wilderness. The fire also burned ski lifts at the Mountain High ski resort, but staff there used snowmaking machines to wet nearby vegetation and the resort itself "[appeared] to be mostly unharmed by fire", according to CBS News.^[11]

No deaths or significant injuries have been reported.^[11]

• Line Fire
• Airport Fire
• Glossary of wildfire terms
• List of California wildfires
• 2024 California wildfires