"Our forests are detonating like napalm bombs. We need to remove dead and dying bug-killed timber," said Rep. Wally Herger, R-Calif.Is this Monday-morning quarterbacking spurred by the wildfires now raging in California? Hardly.
Rep. Herger uttered those words in August 1994 as part of his demand that Congress declare a state of emergency in federal forests to permit quick removal of dead trees, fallen branches and other debris that fuel wildfires -- like those that burned 3 million Western acres and killed 14 firefighters that year.
A spokesman for the Natural Resources Defense Council (search) responded at the time by calling Rep. Herger's demand "a pretext for accelerated logging in the Sierra Nevada."
Nine years later, though, Rep. Herger's demand is looking pretty prescient ... [snip]
In forests that have only tens of trees per acre, flames tend to stay close to the ground. But in crowded forests with hundreds and thousands of trees per acre, like we have today, the flames can easily move across tree tops. "Flames are 90 feet tall instead of 3 feet tall," according to the University of Idaho forestry expert Dr. Leon Neuenschwander ... [snip]
The voluntary evacuation has been lifted for the Big Bear Valley.Second home owners, visitors and vendors will be allowed into Big Bear.
EVACUATION ORDERS HAVE BEEN DOWNGRADED TO VOLUNTARY FOR THE COMMUNITIES OF LAKE ARROWHEAD, RUNNING SPRINGS, BLUE JAY, CRESTLINE AND SURROUNDING AREAS. NO MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES ARE UNDER MANDATORY EVACUATION.
Remember, these residents will be returning through the Big Bear Valley, and we should show them every courtesy possible. They've been displaced much longer than we have. Another bit of good news is that the Lake Arrowhead Stater Bros. will reopen its doors as of 7:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 4.
Road information:
- Highway 38 is open.
- Highway 18 is open from Lucerne Valley to Big Bear.
- Highway 18 is closed at the Big Bear Dam to 40th Street in San Bernardino
- Highway 330 is closed to all traffic.
- If you are planning to return to Big Bear please drive carefully.
Local elections in the Big Bear Valley will take place as scheduled on November 4th. Please check your sample ballot for your polling place. Other mountain communities should check below for your voting procedures. These sites will be on election day from 7AM to 8PM. Additional sites will be added as needed.
- Registrar of Voters, 777 East Rialto Ave. San Bernardino
- Jesse Turner Community Center, 6396 Citrus Ave. Fontana
- Hesperia High School, 9898 Maple Ave. Hesperia
- Victorville City Hall, 14343 Civic Drive, Victorville
There will be a Big Bear community meeting at the Performing Arts Center on Tuesday November 4, 2003 from 7:00 to 8:00 PM. The topics to be discussed will be what happened while you were gone, along with appreciation and thanks that the community was spared. There will be a short question and answer session. Presentations will include information on the fire progression, local resources activated and fire contingency lines completed. Speakers will include local elected officials, fire chiefs, National Fire Team members and USFS Mountaintop district ranger. For more information call the Big Bear City Department at 909-585-2362.
All post offices in Big Bear are open for regular business and all the local Big Bear mail is in the valley. The mail is piling up so please pick up yours as soon as possible.
The Bear Valley Unified School District will begin classes again on Tuesday November 4. You can call the information line for more information 866-4631, ext. 201. Rainbow Kids will be open at Big Bear Elementary School and Baldwin Lane from 7am to 6pm on Tuesday with their regular schedule.
Here is the latest information that we have on the Old Fire
- Current size of fire: 91,281 acres
- 83% Containment
- Estimated date for full containment: 11/08/03 or sooner
- 4,133 total personnel
- 6 injuries
- 4 deaths
- 976 homes destroyed 35 homes damaged 10 commercial properties destroyed.
Fire officials consider the Lake Arrowhead an area to watch. The strategy for today is to continue structure protection, direct attack, perimeter line construction and mop up. There will be small flare-ups and smoldering within the perimeter.
As of 9:00 AM this morning the Big Bear City Airport is open for all operations. The Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) is now from the Big Bear Dam west.
The potential fire danger as of this morning is now below normal for this time of year. The fire potential is a component of humidity, moisture in and on fuel, temperature and winds. When the fire began the fire potential was as high as the highest average recorded for this time of year.
According to the Incident Command Center in Big Bear there is no reason to believe that the fire will move to Big Bear Valley. The fire fighting objectives are:
1. Keeping the fire south of the desert communities.
2. Keeping the fire west of the Santa Ana River, Angeles Oaks,
Bear Creek and containing the fire north of Coyote Flats.
3. Keeping fire fighters, aviation and the public safe.
4. Protecting for the communities
5. Providing information to the public.
6. Preventing damage to natural resources.As of 6:00 AM this morning at these objectives were being met.
Most stores and businesses should be open today or very soon
The Gas company has said if anyone needs assistance with their gas service please call, service teams are standing by, and the number is 800-530-3424.
The Department of Water is asking to please make sure that you have turned off all your outdoor irrigation such as sprinklers and winterize them.
You could be covered by your homeowners insurance for expenses related to a mandatory evacuation. Check your policy or call your agent to confirm your coverage.
EVACUATION SITES STATUS
- Victor Valley College, 18422 Bear Valley Road, Victorville
- Apple Valley High School, 11837 Navajo Road, Apple Valley
- Hesperia High School, 9898 Maple Ave., Hesperia
- San Bernardino International Airport - 2 Hangers
- Sultana High School, 17311 Sultana, Hesperia
According to local the local Sheriffs authorities there has been no looting in the Big Bear Valley. During the mandatory evacuation were as many as 76 patrol units on the street at any given time which was 72 more than normal.
There is a $110,000.00 reward for the capture of the arsonist who set the fire. Anyone with information is urged to contact Sgt. Bobby Dean with the Sheriff's Department Homicide Detail at (909) 387-3589 or toll-free at 1-866-346-7632.
There are many heroes that have emerged from this incident. By far the largest group which made possibly one of the biggest impacts were the residents and visitors who had evacuation plans and exercised them. The bulldozer crews cut fire lines in the Santa Ana canyon and with firefighters were able to slow the fire which kept highway 38 open.
If the fire had jumped the fire lines today's story might be different. By Tuesday night 15,000 to 20,000 people evacuated calmly and without incident. On Wednesday 50-MPH winds raced through the fire lines and into Big Bear. It looked like mother nature was determined to push the fire in to the valley. Then Thursday morning the anticipated weather change brought high winds and with them cold temperatures, high humidity, drizzle and then snow.
This is the latest information we have on the Old Fire. Keep it tuned to KBHR, 93.3 for updates at the top of every hour.
If you wish to learn whether your property has been damaged by the fires, a list is being compiled and kept by the San Bernardino County Assessor's Office. Please
Call the County Assessor's Office at 866-854-3700, or
Visit the County Fire Emergency Local Assistance Center at San Bernardino International Airport at 105 N. Leland Norton Way in San Bernardino.Structural Assessment
For structural assessment, call 909-387-3089.If you wish to have your property damage inspected and structurally assessed by the County of San Bernardino, please:
Call County Building and Safety at 909-387-3089, or
Visit the County Fire Emergency Local Assistance Center at San Bernardino International Airport at 105 N. Leland Norton Way in San Bernardino.
County Building and Safety is compiling a list of properties in the fire areas to inspect.
Fire Emergency Local Assistance Center Hours
Monday through Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturdays: 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.