Wildfire on edge of San Bernardino National Forest threatens 1,500 homes

HIGHLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Firefighters took advantage of calm weather Saturday as they battled a blaze that forced the evacuation of 400 homes and threatened another 1,000 dwellings on the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest.

Erratic winds that fueled the fire, which began Friday afternoon, died down and allowed firefighters to get a better handle.

"It went pretty good today, it surprised us all," said Rick Marinelli, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service. "We are able to hold it with very little spread."

The Bridge fire remained at least a mile from any homes but still threatened an additional 3,000 outbuildings, authorities said. About 1,350 acres had been burned and containment was estimated at 15 percent, Marinelli said.

One firefighter hurt his back and eight others had unspecified injuries, officials said.

The fire started Friday afternoon about four miles from Highland, about 60 miles east of Los Angeles, in an area with thousands of dead trees that had been ravaged by an infestation of Western pine bark beetles, said Karen Terrill, fire information officer for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

"The last time this area burned was 1956, so this is a lot of very dead, very dry material that's burning now, in addition to the bug kill area," she said.

Authorities ordered evacuations Friday night as the flames neared homes in the communities of Smiley Park, Fredalba, Knob Hill and Enchanted Forest. More than 1,000 people were forced to find shelter elsewhere.

Woody Andrews, 50, a contractor from Running Springs, sought shelter at the Lake Arrowhead Hilton Resort, which opened its rooms to evacuees for $19 a night.

"We're mentally prepared for at least two days," he said. "They have a pool and cable. It's nice."

Other evacuees awaited news on the fire at Rim of the World High School in Running Springs.

Marie Harvey, 42, said about 35 residents spent the night at the school. Local business owners helped by bringing food for the evacuees.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it would make disaster relief funding available to help pay the cost of fighting the blaze, which is estimated at nearly $1 million.

Gene Zimmerman, a Forestry Service supervisor, said more fires are likely for years to come due to drought.

"We're primed for disaster," Zimmerman said. "It's taken 100 years to get in this condition. It'll take us 30 years to get out of it."

Rebecca Smith, a teacher from Running Springs who was forced to evacuate, said more should have been done to clear the dead trees and dry brush.

"So many people here can't afford to take down dead trees," said Smith, 53. "It was a disaster waiting to happen. So many trees have to come down to keep us safe. It's very frustrating."

Meanwhile, another blaze consumed 170 acres near the Pala Indian Reservation in rural San Diego County on Saturday, Terrill said.

The Lilac fire was moving in the direction of the reservation, an area that Terrill said had no history of burning.

"So what's burning there now is very dead and very dry," Terrill said.