North Fire Update: 5% Contained 3500 Acres and Rain Forecasted

BALDY MESA-(VVNG.com): The north fire has caused devastation for many whether they were traveling on the I-15 when it jumped the freeway, or if it was close to their home. The fire is still about 3500 acres and still at 5% containment. On the I-15 twenty vehicles including two semi’s were completely destroyed, while ten others were damaged.

When the fire reached the Baldy Mesa community, it continued to devastate causing mass evacuations of people and their livestock. Horses, cows, bulls and pigs were loaded into trailers and driven to safety. Animals of all sizes were welcomed at the Victor Valley Fairgrounds located at 14800 7th Street in Victorville. In all, the San Bernardino County Event Center/Fairgrounds had housed at last count, 32 horse, 12 mini horses, 39 pigs, 2 cows, 5 peacocks, 3 pigeons, 13 chickens, 1 sheep and 5 goats, and 2 mini donkeys.

The damage to date is 3 homes, 8 outbuildings, and 44 vehicles from the community of Baldy Mesa. These 44 vehicles do not include the 20 destroyed and 10 damaged on the 1-15. Mandatory evacuations are in place east of Sheep Creek Road, North of Highway 138, West of the 1-15 at Highway 395 and south of Phelan Road.

Evacuation Center for residents is at the Serrano High School, 9292 Sheep Creek Rd, Phelan CA, 92371. Large and Small Animals can be taken to the Victor Valley Fairgrounds, 14800 7th Street in Victorville, CA 92395. Serrano High School housed 204 clients overnight from both the North and Pine Fires.

Southbound Interstate 15 has three lanes reopened and all northbound lanes of Interstate 15 have been reopened.

Immediate air efforts to control the fire was delayed approximately 25 minutes due to drones being in the airspace necessary to fight the freeway fire. Those who fly drones are asked for the safety of fire officials and those in fire affected areas that wildfire areas are avoided. The flight of these in these areas can cause additional loss of life, property and natural resources.

The resources at this time are 1,000 firefighters, 22 engines, 2 crews, 4 water tenders, 1 dozer, 1 air attack plane, 1 lead plane, 3 helicopters, and 6 fixed wing tankers (including DC10 and MD87).

Edison crews are working to repair damaged infrastructure in the Baldy Mesa Area, 38 customers are without power.

The fire crews are focusing on protecting nearby structures and gain additional containment. The Monsoonal flow is bringing increased moisture, which can assist in the firefighting efforts, but with that it is also bringing additional gusts of wind and a threat of lighting which could hamper efforts causing concern for firefighters.