Ridge Fire near Yucaipa

 USFS Incident Website

By Danielle Seckler

July 4th - 6:00 a.m.

   The 250-acre fire is 15% contained and expected to be fully contained by 8:00 p.m. today. At no time was the Bear Valley in any danger, though smoke and ash did come into the valley. All roads are open and no evacuations were ordered. The cause of the fire is unknown at this time and investigation will continue.

   Even with many fire personnel up North, our fire fighters jumped onto this fire immediately and kept it from becoming a major incident. As always, the men and women who fight these threats are the best!

July 3, 2008 – 8:00 p.m.

   The Ridge fire started about 1:30 p.m., on Thursday, July 3rd, just east of the US Forest Ranger Station off of Highway 38. The cause of the fire is unknown. By 2:30 p.m., smoke was coming into the Big Bear Valley, causing alarm to residents and businesses. Residents called the local fire stations asking questions. There is no danger to the Bear Valley and all roads are open both ways.

   The fire is down the hill, SW of Highway 38, above the Ranger Station, near Bryant Road, which goes to Yucaipa. Between 2:30 and 6:30, the fire consumed 250 acres. Bear Valley Fire agencies are staying in the valley, at this time.

   At 3:30 p.m. we drove down Highway 38 and took the following pictures.

(L) Starting about a half a mile past Onyx Summit, the signs of smoke. (M) Near Barton Ranch Road, five miles down the road. (R) Ten miles down the road from Onyx Summit.

(L) Notice how the road looks yellow, from the sun shining through the smoke. (M) Smoke fills the valleys near Jenks Lake. (R) The first signs of the fire past Highway 38.

 (L) Past the Forest Falls Road, down the river bed. (M & R) the fire's plume above Mountain Homes Estate.

 All three pictures are of the ridge behind Mountain Homes Estate along Hwy 38.

Hwy 38 & Bryant Road, USFS Ranger station. Best angle to see how far behind Hwy 38 & the Mountain Homes Estate.

Want to be an I-reporter for us - send us your pictures and we will post them? Just send us an email to PR@bearvalleynews.com. Let us know your name and information you have about the picture.

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