Air Attack on Wildfire
in the Desert
Before
noon today, Friday, July 17, 2020 smoke from a vegetation was visible to Fire-watch
cams in the area of Lucerne Valley, north of Big Bear Valley. At 12:45 P.M. San
Bernardino County Fire 10-acre wildfire was spotted at Pitzer Buttes Road and
Powerline Road.
By 2:16 P.M.
Air Attack reported the vegetation fire was evaluated to have reached at
50 acres and no threat to grow to the mountains. Additional resources were
requested from both San Bernardino County Fire Department and CalFire. At 2:45
P.M. the Pitzer Fire was at approximately 100 acres and burning south of the
railroad tracks. An update at 2:56 P.M. from US Forest Service Battalion #13,
reported the wildfire was between 75-100 acres, also affirming it was a low to
medium risk of reaching into the forested area.
By
4:17 P.M. Firefighters were gaining on the wildfire with the assistance of several
agencies, including: San Bernardino County, US Forest Service, CalFire, FedCom Calcom
as well as SBCSD Air Attack.
The
Pitzer Fire was fought through the night, until it diminished to a manageable burn-out,
that firefighters continued to watch.
They did a mop-up early Saturday afternoon.
Aerial photos courtesy of several agencies. Note the hawk flying away from the smoke.
