Hillside fire now 50% contained, evacuations remain in place2019-10-312019-10-31http://www.greatestbailbonds.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/screenshot-2019-07-18-at-21.20.42.pngGreatest Bail Bondshttp://www.greatestbailbonds.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/screenshot-2019-07-18-at-21.20.42.png200px200px
Hillside fire now 50% contained, evacuations remain in place
by Eric Licas, Richard K. De Atley, Alma Fausto
The Hillside fire in San Bernardino charred 200 acres and damaged at least eight buildings Thursday morning, Oct. 31, as fire crews continued to battle the blaze that ignited in the early morning hours near Highway 18 and Lower Waterman Canyon in San Bernardino.
At around 1 p.m., San Bernardino County Fire Department said the blaze was 50% contained and it hadn’t grown in size while crews worked to reinforce the lines.
An early assessment showed that that there were six homes and two outbuildings consumed or damaged by fire, officials said at morning news conference.
Evacuations have been ordered for 500 homes, affecting 1,300 residents. So far authorities have not been able to say when residents may be allowed back into their homes.
Although it may appear that winds are calmer in the morning, San Bernardino County fire Deputy Chief Kathleen Opliger said, there are still strong gusts up in the hills.
A firefighter works to extinguish flames at a home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter works to extinguish flames at a home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
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Firefighters man their engines on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino during the early morning hours of Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Multiple homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Homeowners speak with a firefighter as they work to extinguish flames at their destroyed home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Multiple homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter works to extinguish flames at a home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino during the early morning hours of Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firefighters work to extinguish flames at a home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino during the early morning hours of Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019.. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter works to extinguish flames at a home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino during the early morning hours of Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter works to extinguish flames at a home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino during on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Multiple homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firefighters work to extinguish flames at a home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firefighters work to extinguish flames at a home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A home burns on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter works to extinguish flames at a home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firefighters work to extinguish flames at a home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Burning embers blow off a tree stump on Lupin Ct. in San Bernardino during the early morning hours of Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter works to extinguish flames at a home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A homeowner walks down his driveway after seeing his destroyed home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter works to extinguish flames at a home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. At least 3 homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A homeowner speaks with a firefighter as they work to extinguish flames at his destroyed home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter walks towards a destroyed work home on Lupin Ln. in San Bernardino during the early morning hours of Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Homeowners speak with a firefighter as they work to extinguish flames at their destroyed home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter works to extinguish flames at a home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino during the early morning hours of Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter works to extinguish flames at a home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino during the early morning hours of Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firefighters work to extinguish flames at a home on Saturn Ct. in San Bernardino during the early morning hours of Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter works on a burning home on Saturn Court in San Bernardino that burned as a result of teh Hillside fire on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter sprays water on a burning home in San Bernardino during the Hillside fire on Thursday, Oct. 31, 2019. (Photo by Richard K. De Atley, The Press-Enterprise/SCNG)
Two homes were destroyed by the Hillside fire on Viento Way in the North Park neighborhood of San Bernardino early Thursday morning, Oct. 31, 2019. (Photo by Richard K. De Atley/The Sun/SCNG)
A firefighter puts out hot spots at one of two destroyed homes on Viento Way in San Bernardino on Thursday morning Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind-driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter rakes the debris at one of two destroyed homes on Viento Way in San Bernardino on Thursday morning Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind-driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter sprays water on what is left of one of two destroyed homes on Viento Way in San Bernardino Thursday morning Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind-driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firefighters clear a garage door at one of two destroyed homes on Viento Way in San Bernardino Thursday morning Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind-driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Firefighters work at one of two destroyed homes on Viento Way in San Bernardino on Thursday morning Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind-driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A DC-10 air tanker makes a retardant drop on the Hillside fire as a firefighter works to extinguish hot spots at one of two destroyed homes on Viento Way in San Bernardino Thursday morning Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind-driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
Residents gather on Viento Way in San Bernardino Thursday morning Oct. 31, 2019, after the Hillside fire destroyed two homes on their street. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind-driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter puts up caution tape around a leaning chimney at a home on Viento Way in San Bernardino Thursday morning Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind-driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A firefighter works to extinguish hot spots at one of two destroyed homes on Viento Way in San Bernardino on Thursday morning Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind-driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
A DC-10 air tanker makes a retardant drop on the Hillside fire behind a pair of destroyed homes on Viento Way in San Bernardino Thursday morning Oct. 31, 2019. Six homes have been destroyed by the wind-driven fire which has consumed approximately 200 acres with zero containment. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)
The reference is to the recent power outages by Southern California Edison and other utilities throughout the state as pre-emptive move to prevent fires when high winds blow through. Thousands throughout Southern California had power shutdown Wednesday, including Cal State San Bernardino that was closed again Thursday due to outages.
Back in the fire area of the North Park neighborhood of San Bernardino where the #HillsideFire struck in the early morning. Firefighters continue to work on dousing residual flames at a home at the end of Lupin Court. pic.twitter.com/rmpPQwav2j
Back in the North Park neighborhood of San Bernardino firefighters Thursday morning continue dousing flames at a home at the end of Lupin Lane.
Don Silver’s home on Saturn Court was spared from the fire although two houses at the end of the neighborhood were burned.
One of them was the home of his neighbor across the nearby intersection with Lupin Lane. As his neighbor’s home burned, the man ran to alert Silver and his wife Barbara who were asleep.
“His house was burning and he came running over here, because he knows my wife and I are both elderly,” Silver said Thursday morning.
“Sometimes you just have nice neighbors, and you don’t know it. He came running over to tell us and he’s lost everything,” Silver said standing outside his two-story home.
Matthew Valdivia, 35, lost his home on Viento Way in the North Park neighborhood. He, his wife and their two daughters along with the family dog escaped safely. It was their first home, he said while walking through its ruins.
It started when he awoke to the smell of smoke then looked through the French doors of the back bedroom.
“I saw the glow coming our way,” Valdivia said. “I told my wife, ‘Listen, get up, get the kids ready, get our folders of whatever we have … I’m going to go outside and let the neighbors know.’”
After waking neighbors in two homes with the “ridiculously fast” fire approaching, it was time for his family to go.
He took one car, his wife took a second and they chose to leave the third. It burned.
“Then I remembered my dog was in the garage, so I came back and picked him up,” Valdivia said. “By that time the fire was really close. There was nothing else I could get.”
At 2:10 a.m., arriving San Bernardino County fire crews found two to three acres of medium fuel on fire with a rapid rate of spread. An hour later the Hillside fire had reached about 200 acres.
Winds were blowing at 20 mph to 30 mph and there were gusts up to 60 mph, said Tracey Martinez, spokeswoman for the fire department.
“We are protecting structures. We know the fire has consumed some structures. We are trying to save as many as we can,” Martinez said.
Early Thursday morning, Cindy Bachman, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said 18 homes had been damaged or destroyed, but later in the morning authorities dropped the number to six homes and two out-buildings.
“Deputies made contact at many homes advising of the evacuation and they encountered a handful of people who refused to evacuate. We can’t stress enough that the evacuation order is for their safety,” Bachman said in an email.
Highway 18 was closed from 40th Street to Highway 138.
Four strike teams that had been prepositioned because of high winds were dispatched to the fire. By about 4:40 a.m., about 350 fire personnel were on scene for structure defense,according to the San Bernardino National Forest.
One firefighter was taken to a hospital for smoke inhalation.
Winds were pushing flames south and both east and west, San Bernardino National Forest spokesman Zach Behrens said. It was not threatening mountain communities to the north as of about 4 a.m., but that could change as conditions develop.
Flames had entered neighborhoods north of San Bernardino, county fire officials said. Mandatory evacuations were in effect including west of Highway 18, which was closed as smoke, ash and embers filled the skies above. The evacuations affected about 1,300 people, officials said. Small animals can be taken to the San Bernardino City Animal Shelter, 333 Chandler Place, the Fire Department said.
San Bernardino police officers are patrolling the affected evacuation zones.
Firefighters were focused on keeping the fire west of the freeway and an air attack was launched.
An evacuation center opened at Pacific High School in San Bernardino. Schools in the area remain open, officials said.
This is a breaking story, check back for updates.
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All credit goes to Eric Licas, Richard K. De Atley, Alma Fausto
Originally published on https://www.dailynews.com
