From Staff and Wire Reports
LUCERNE VALLEY — At 10:36 on the morning of Aug. 16, a fire along Old Cajon Blvd. in the Cajon Pass was spotted. Within hours, the Bluecut Fire would virtually explode out of control and destroy more than 37,000 acres — along with 200 homes, numerous vehicles and outbuildings — within days.
That conflagration, which displaced 82,000 residents for several days, also completely closed down the I-15 Freeway. The result: Area drivers were forced to use alternate routes. One of them was Highway 18 through Lucerne Valley, which thousands of drivers used to commute "down the hill."
The idea was to drive east through Apple Valley and Lucerne Valley and then southward up Highway 18 through the Big Bear area. On Wednesday that plan went out the window when a big rig carrying boxes of whole, fresh peaches apparently didn't make a curve above the Mitsubishi Cement Plant. The result was boxes of the stone fruit were lost down the side of the highway and numerous travelers had to wait to the accident to be cleared.
During the course of the fire, railroad lines, local roads, highway 138, along with I-15, were closed along with a large evacuation area that included Lytle Creek, Wrightwood, Summit Valley, Baldy Mesa, Phelan and Oak Hills.
As of Sunday, the fire was a total 37,020 acres and 89% contained. A total of 1,223 personnel were assigned to the fire including 102 engines, 34 crews, 14 dozers, 9 water tenders, and 9 helicopters.
In the High Desert, the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville Provided services to residents and their pets.
California Incident Management Team 4 is managing the incident, in unified command with the US Forest Service, CAL FIRE, San Bernardino County Fire, San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department, and the California Highway Patrol.
The Cause of the Fire is under investigation, however investigators need your help to determine the fire cause. If you seen anything, heard anything have photos or videos, please call We Tip 1-800-47-ARSON or submit your tip online at: http://wetip.com/