Vegetation Fire Ignited by a Single-vehicle Accident 
Old Waterman Canyon Road
Burned 35 Acres
100% Contained Day 3
Monday, June 28, 2021, 10:51 A.M., San Bernardino
County Fire Crews were dispatched to a reported vegetation fire in the 2500
block of Old Waterman Canyon Road in North San Bernardino. Due to the fire being adjacent to the San Bernardino National Forest,
the United States Forest Service also sent a full response, including aircraft.
Arriving crews found a
vehicle fire that had already spread to approximately 3-5 acres of vegetation.
The fire was rapidly spreading uphill in medium to heavy fuels. Due to the fire
being in San Bernardino County Fire Direct Protection Area (DPA) & an
immediate threat to USFS San Bernardino National Forest land, both agencies
entered unified command to work hand-in-hand to contain the fire. Additional
resources were quickly ordered to control the fire and to protect 20 nearby
homes. Arriving Forest Hot Shots worked on perimeter control, line construction
and were deployed to homes to provide structure defense.
The Peak Fire quickly spread uphill, jumping State
Route 18, burning towards National Forest land. Arriving fixed and rotor wing
aircraft dropped retardant and water to help slow the fire. By 3:00 P.M. Monday,
the fire had burned 35 acres the forward rate of spread had been stopped. Fire Crews
transitioned to mop-up operations and worked through the night to increase
containment and suppress hot spots.
By nightfall the fire remained at 35 acres and
was contained at 20%. Steep terrain and dense vegetation hampered containment
efforts. Tuesday, July 29th
more than 100 personnel continued to work on mop-up, containment lines and
patrolling the fires edge. Containment continued to push up, with the
vegetation fire being 95% contained by nightfall.
As of Wednesday morning,
the fire had accomplished 100% contained. Firefighters continued to monitor and
patrol the fire for the days to come. The cause of the fire was a
single-vehicle accident, which resulted in a vehicle fire that quickly spread
to adjacent dry vegetation. One firefighter was injured and transported to a local
hospital and since been released. No homes were damaged or destroyed by the Peak
Vegetation Fire.
San Bernardino Fire Teams
San Bernardino County
Fire responded with 8
Engines, two Dozers, two Hand Crews, three Water Tenders, five Chief Officers,
a Command Post and numerous logistical staff.
U.S. Forest Service - San Bernardino National Forest Service sent a full
response, including rotor-wing and fixed wing aircraft.
CAL FIRE San
Bernardino/Inyo/Mono Unit, Redlands Fire Department, San Manuel Fire
Department, Chino Valley Fire District, Apple Valley Fire District Big Bear
Fire District, Ontario Fire District and Rialto Fire all assisted.
San Bernardino PD, San
Bernardino County Sheriff, California Highway Patrol assisted with road closures, in addition to, providing
assistance at the Command Post.
CAL-Trans and San
Bernardino County Road Crews
assisted with traffic control and hard closures of State Route 18 and Old Waterman Canyon
roads.
San Bernardino County Fire Crews Battalion Chief Malcolm McGough
Expresses his appreciation,
“Thanks, to our cooperators for their assistance. At the height of the fire,
more than 200 firefighters worked to contain the fire, to its success.”
