Category Archives: Big Bear Lake

Big Bear Lake, California, Outdoors

Before the Storm: A Southern California Mountain Winter Preparedness Guide

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell
Heavy rain, mountain snow, and closed roads can turn an ordinary winter storm into a serious problem. Here’s what mountain residents should take care of before the weather arrives.
 
Winter is coming to Southern California’s mountains, and the developing El Niño has given mountain residents another reason to prepare.
A wet winter can bring welcome snowpack and much-needed water to our forests. It can also bring flooded roads, debris flows, extended power outages, and enough snow to isolate entire neighborhoods.
Residents of Big Bear, Lake Arrowhead, Wrightwood, Idyllwild, and other mountain communities already know how quickly conditions can change. Those living below burned slopes or along steep canyon roads face additional hazards when heavy rain arrives.
The time to prepare is before the first major storm appears in the forecast.

Continue reading →

Big Bear Lake, California, News, Outdoors

A Powerful El Niño Is Building. What Does That Mean for Southern California’s Mountains?

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell
NOAA sees an increasing chance of a historic El Niño this winter. Here’s what that could mean for our national forests, mountain communities, and backcountry.
 
El Niño is getting stronger, and Southern California could be in for an unusually wet winter.
 
On October 8, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported that ocean temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific continued to climb through September. The Niño-3.4 region reached 3.8°F above average, while portions of the eastern Pacific exceeded 7.2°F above normal.
 

Continue reading →

Big Bear Lake, Cal Fire, California, U.S. Forest Service, Wildfire

Apple Fire – San Bernardino National Forest

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

According to InciWeb, the Apple Fire has burned more than 26,000 acres, with about 5% containment. The fire is burning in, basically, virgin fire territory; there hasn’t been a fire in that area in a long time so there is a fuel density, low humidity, and high temperature equation that is allowing this fire to burn hot and bright. It’s an active fire during the day and night (it’s not really laying down after dark).

Continue reading →

Big Bear Lake, National Forests, Wildfire, Wildlife

Summit Fire burning south of Big Bear Lake

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

A fire now named the Summit Fire is burning in the San Bernardino National Forest near Forest Service Road 2N08 (to the south of the city of Big Bear Lake and west of the Snow Summit ski resort).

The fire appears to have started near Pine Knot Avenue and Knickerbocker Road around 12:30 p.m. Within an hour, the fire had grown to more than 10 acres, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department. At last report, it had grown again to between 20 and 25 acres.  It has a moderate rate of spread, and is being fueled by moderate to heavy forest growth.

There are mandatory evacuations for the area from Knickerbocker Road east to Georgia Road and south of Pennsylvania Road to the forest boundary.

08/24/15 Update (from InciWeb):

Continue reading →

Big Bear Lake, Wildlife

Mill 2 fire update

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

InciWeb is reporting that the Mill 2 fire is burning off the 38 near Bryant street off Highway 38.  They’re also reporting that a drone was flying in the area, which caused the tankers to abort their mission(s). Keep your damned drones away from the fires, idiots!

From Inciweb:

The Mill 2 Fire started in Mill Creek Canyon near State Highway 38 and Bryant Street at about 2:30 pm, east of Mentone, and north of Yucaipa.

It is reported to be approximately 35 acres in size. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Four homes are evacuated on the lower or west end of Yucaipa Ridge.

State Highway 38 is closed between Bryant Street and Lake Williams.
The fire is being managed in unified command US Forest Service and CALFIRE.

Resources responding include: 17 engines, 7 crews, 2 dozers, 5 helicopters, 2 fixed wing air tankers, air attack, DC-10 (VLAT) on order.

An Unmanned Aircraft System (drone) temporarily halted tanker operations, but operations soon resumed.

You can get the latest information on the fire HERE.