Holcomb Fire PM Update for June 20

SAN BERNARDINO, California, June 20, 2017 – Firefighters continue to battle warm temperatures and difficult terrain while fighting a 1,200 acre wildfire north of Baldwin Lake in the Big Bear Lake area. Over 700 firefighters from the Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, San Bernardino County, CALFIRE, Big Bear Fire Authority and other local agencies are working to contain the fire, and Southern California Incident Management Team 2 has taken command of the fire. Additional engines and crews will continue to arrive to augment existing firefighters.

A small area north of Baldwin Lake road was briefly evacuated this afternoon when fire activity increased, pushing the fire closer to homes north of Highway 18, however no residences or structures were damaged during this period of increased fire activity. Highway 18 remains closed between the Mitsubishi Cement Plant and Delta Avenue near Baldwin Lake. Please be aware of increased traffic on mountain highways due to the Highway 18 closure. Several forest roads including Van Duesen Canyon and Holcomb Valley Road East are closed, as well as a section of the popular Pacific Crest Trail between Highway 18 and Van Duesen Canyon Road.

Near record heat continues to hamper firefighting efforts, and weather forecasts indicate the heat wave will last through Wednesday evening. Residents and visitors should monitor the fire, and be prepared to leave if conditions changed or if new fire threatens your community.