This is a developing story and will be updated.
Evacuations are being downgraded or lifted as firefighters across Southern California make steady progress to contain three major wildfires.
The Line, Bridge and Airport fires have burned more than 110,000 acres across four counties, forcing tens of thousands of evacuations, destroying homes.
One good sign: Favorable weather conditions have limited the fires' spread and allowed firefighters to get the upper hand.
Authorities say two of the fires — Airport and Line — were caused by humans, the first by accident and the other allegedly intentional. The cause of the Bridge Fire is under investigation.
- We have a guide on how to keep yourself safe from wildfire smoke.
- It's now always fire season: Here's how to sign up for emergency alerts in Southern California
Here's what we know about each of the fires so far:
Airport Fire (Orange and Riverside counties)
For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
- OC Fire on X
- Cal Fire information
- Up-to-date evacuation map
- O.C. government emergency site
- Hotline: (714) 628-7085
The Airport Fire ignited last Monday afternoon in Trabuco Canyon near the city of Rancho Santa Margarita, quickly prompting evacuations. On Saturday, a fire update noted that firefighters made "significant strides" in containing the fire near Ortega Highway where homes burned during the week.
Mission Viejo Animal Services is asking people to report sightings of injured or disoriented animals that might have been displaced by the Airport Fire. A wide variety of birds, racoons, foxes and even mountain lions live in the area destroyed by the fire.
The basics
- Acreage: 23,519 acres as of Tuesday morning
- Containment: 31%
- Structures destroyed: 160
- Structures damaged: 34
- Deaths: None
- Injuries: 14 — two civilians and 12 firefighters
- Cause: Spark from heavy equipment
- Personnel working on fire: 2,201
Evacuation map and orders
Evacuation orders are in place for the following areas. Many mandatory evacuations have been downgraded to warnings:
- Caspers Regional Park
- San Juan Springs
- Blue Jay campground
Evacuation warnings have been issued for communities in both Orange and Riverside counties. See a complete list.
Evacuation shelters
Orange County
- Foothill Ranch library located at 27002 Cabriole Way, Foothill Ranch, 92610 is the main care and reception shelter. Small household pets can co-locate.
- Orange County Fairgrounds: 88 Fair Drive; Costa Mesa (large animals)
- Los Alamitos Race Course: 4961 Katella Avenue, Cypress (large animals)
- Nohl Ranch Saddle Club: 6352 E. Nohl Ranch Rd. Anaheim (large animals)
- Ralph’s Supermarket parking lot, 31841 Santa Margarita Parkway; Rancho Santa Margarita (small animals)
- OC Animal Care, 1630 Victory Road; Tustin (small animals)
- Orange County residents who need animal assistance can call (949) 470-3045
Riverside County
- Ortega High School, located at 520 Chaney St., Lake Elsinore (people)
- Jurupa Valley Animal Shelter: 6851 Van Buren Blvd., Jurupa Valley (animals)
- An additional Large Animal Shelter is available at the Murrieta Equestrian Center located at 42670 Juniper St., Murrieta. Basic food and water are available at animal shelters. If your pets/animals have special diets or special needs, please bring special food or medications with your animals.
- Riverside County residents needing assistance with large animal evacuations can call (951) 358-7387.
Bridge Fire (L.A. and San Bernardino counties)
For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
The Bridge Fire, the largest wildfire currently burning in Southern California, ignited on Sunday afternoon in the Angeles National Forest and has burned tens of thousands of acres this week. Fire officials say that 20 homes were destroyed in Mt. Baldy, 13 homes in Wrightwood and five cabins in wilderness areas.
On Friday, residents in Wrightwood are being warned to not drink tap water or use it for cooking.
The Wrightwood water system may have fire-related contamination, including harmful chemicals like benzene or other “volatile” substances, according to Golden State Water Company. Drinking the water could cause illness.
The basics
- Acreage: 54,795 acres as of Tuesday morning
- Containment: 25%
- Structures destroyed: 66
- Structures damaged: 13
- Cause: Under investigation
- Deaths: None
- Injuries: None reported
- Personnel working on fire: 2,785
- Fire history: Much of the area hasn't burned since the early 2000s, meaning there's roughly a quarter-century of fuel buildup.
Evacuation orders and map
Evacuation orders have been issued for the following areas:
- Entire community of Wrightwood.
- The area from Highway 138 south to the northern border of San Antonio Heights, extending north to the Wrightwood evacuation zones and east to Cucamonga Peak.
- East Fork communities, including Camp Williams Resort (café, mobile home park, campground) and River Community (near the resort).
- Mount Baldy Road, all residents north of the San Antonio Dam up to the Mount Baldy Resort.
- See the map above for full evacuation zones and warnings.
Evacuation centers
- San Bernardino County Fairgrounds (people), 14800 Seventh St. in Victorville. Call (800) 733-2767 (people)
- Jessie Turner Health and Fitness Community Center (people), 15556 Summit Ave. in Fontana. Call (909) 854-5100 (people)
- Pomona Fairplex (people), 601 W. McKinley Ave. in Pomona (Enter Gate 3, corner of McKinley and White).
- Fountain of Living Waters Church, 10120 Johnson Rd, Phelan, CA 92371
- Devore Animal Shelter (animals), 19777 Shelter Way in San Bernardino. Call (909) 386-9820, or after hours: (800) 472-5609
- Palmdale Animal Care Center (small animals), 38550 Sierra Hwy in Palmdale.
- Lancaster Animal Care Center (small animals), 5210 W Ave. I in Lancaster.
Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (large animals), 2551 W Avenue H in Lancaster. Call (562) 706-8581 prior to arrival.
Road closures
- State Route 138 closed from Lone Pine Canyon Road to Beekley Road
- State Route 2 closed from Big Pines to State Route 138.
- San Gabriel Canyon and East Fork of the San Gabriel River
- Highway 39
- East Fork Road
- Glendora Ridge Road
- Glendora Mountain Road
- Mount Baldy Road at Shinn Road intersection
- Big Pines Highway
- Big Rock Creek Road
Line Fire (San Bernardino County)
For the most up-to-date information about the fire you can check:
- Cal Fire incident page
- San Bernardino County Sheriff on X
- Latest evacuation map
- Call (909) 220-4292 for the most recent status update.
The Line Fire began more than a week ago, and has forced evacuations in Big Bear, Running Springs and other mountain communities. As of Monday morning more than 36,400 structures were threatened but containment grew to 42%.
Authorities arrested Justin Wayne Halstenberg, a contract delivery driver from Norco, last Tuesday on suspicion of arson. San Bernardino sheriff's officials allege that Halstenberg intentionally started the fire near Base Line Street and Alpine Street in the city of Highland.
Halstenberg pleaded not guilty Tuesday to nine charges, including aggravated arson, arson causing great bodily injury, arson of forest land, and arson of residence.
Sheriff Shannon Dicus said that investigators were looking into the possibility that Halstenberg may be responsible for setting other fires.
The basics
- Acreage: 39,111 acres as of Tuesday morning.
- Containment: 49%
- Cause: Alleged arson
- Structures destroyed: 1
- Structures damaged: 3
- Deaths: None
- Injuries: 3 firefighters
- Personnel assigned: 3,903
Evacuation map and orders
Evacuation orders have been issued by the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department for the following areas:
- Forest Falls and Mountain Home Village (Only residents allowed to return at this time. Be prepared to show proof of residency)
- Green Valley Lake north from Highway 18 along Green Valley Lake Road
- San Bernardino issued Forest Order NO. 05-12-00-24-09, creating a Forest Closure Area around the Line Fire. All National Forest lands, trails, and roads are closed to the public within that zone including San Gorgonio Wilderness
- All undeveloped land east of Highway 330 to Summertrail Place and north of Highland Avenue
- Running Springs and Arrowbear Lake
- Angelus Oaks, Seven Oaks and all campgrounds and cabins in the area
Evacuation warnings
The following warning have been issued by the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department (authorities say residents who require additional time to evacuate, and those with pets and livestock, should leave immediately):
- Cedar Glen, Lake Arrowhead, Twin Peaks, and Valley of Enchantment
- The area of Big Bear Valley from the dam east to Cactus Road
- Erwin Lake, Sugar Loaf, Big Bear City, Big Bear Lake, and Fawnskin
Evacuation shelters
- San Bernardino County Fairgrounds (people), Building 6 at 14800 7th Street, Victorville
- Jesse Turner Health and Fitness Community Center (people), 15556 Summit Avenue, Fontana
- Hacienda Heights Community Center (people), 1234 Valencia, Hacienda Heights
- Devore Animal Shelter (animals), 19777 Shelter Way, Devore
- Palmdale Animal Care Center (small animals), 38550 Sierra Highway, Palmdale
- Lancaster Animal Care Center (small animals) 5210 West Avenue I, Lancaster
- Antelope Valley Fairgrounds (large animals), 2551 W Avenue H, Lancaster
Road closures
According to Cal Fire:
- Highway 38 between Bryant Street and Valley of the Falls Drive will be open to residents of Mountain Home Village and Forest Falls only
- Highway 38 past Valley of the Falls Drive will remain closed in both directions
- Highway 18 is closed from Kuffel Canyon to the Big Bear Dam
- Highway 330 is closed northbound from Highland Avenue to Highway 18
More info on arson arrest
Halstenberg, who was arrested Tuesday, is being held in county jail in lieu of $80,000 bail. He is scheduled to appear Friday in San Bernardino Superior Court, according to jail records.
Sheriff's officials are asking anyone with information related to the investigation to contact Detective Jake Hernandez at (909) 425-9793. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may contact We-Tip at 1-800-78-CRIME or go to wetip.com.
How we're reporting this
This is a developing story. During the day, Jacob Margolis, Erin Stone, Gillian Morán Pérez, Makenna Sievertson and Libby Rainey, Kevin Tidmarsh are contributing. Editors are Karina Gacad, Megan Garvey, George Kiriyama, Dana Littlefield and Tiffany Ujiiye. We fact-check everything and rely only on information from credible sources (think fire, police, government officials and reporters on the ground). Sometimes, however, we make mistakes and/or initial reports turn out to be wrong. In all cases, we strive to bring you the most accurate information in real time and will update this story as new information becomes available.
Resources to prep and cope with wildfire
- Listen to The Big Burn, our podcast that will get you motivated to get ready
- Wildfires are getting worse. What you need to know
- Every day is now fire season. Let's get you ready for the next wildfire burning near you
- Evacuation terms can be confusing. Here’s what they mean and how to sign up for alerts
- How to keep yourself safe from wildfire smoke
- This is why fire officials don't want you to stay and defend your home
- What does 'containment' of a fire mean, exactly
- What to do — and not do — when you get home after a wildfire
- If you want to help fire victims, resist the urge to volunteer
