California deploys nearly 6,000 first responders to combat wildfires

Firefighters watch as the Bridge Fire burns near homes in Wrightwood, Calif., Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

SACRAMENTO – With multiple fast-growing wildfires impacting communities across California, the state has mobilized a massive air and ground response to contain the wildfires and help keep communities safe.

The 24/7 coordinated response includes thousands of boots on the ground, including firefighters, soldiers, law enforcement and first responders, as well as air assets including 51 helicopters and 9 fixed-wing aircraft, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office.

“We are working day and night to protect communities up and down the state of California,” Newsom, who has declared a state of emergency due to the wildfires, said in a statement.

The Airport Fire was one of three large wildfires burning in Southern California this weekend. The Line Fire had burned 38,074 acres in San Bernardino County by Saturday morning and was 25 percent contained, while the Bridge Fire in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties had burned 52,960 acres and was at 3 percent containment.

On Saturday, firefighters braced for another day battling the massive Airport Fire in Riverside and Orange counties, where 23,494 acres have been charred with containment remaining at 9 percent.

Officials said crews were having “notable success in increasing containment” in areas such as Lake Elsinore, Decker Canyon Road and Lakeland Village.

With weather conditions improving and firefighters making progress in the battle, some evacuation orders were reduced to voluntary warnings in both counties, although some orders remained in effect.

Residents can visit this website to determine if their homes are impacted by evacuation orders or warnings.
Road closures and other updates are available here.

Officials said 11 firefighters had suffered minor injuries fighting the blaze, many of them heat-related, while two civilians were also injured, one with an unknown medical condition and the other suffering burn injuries.

Cal Fire said 107 residential, commercial and other structures were destroyed, and another 12 were damaged.

The Airport Fire began at about 1 p.m. Monday near Trabuco Canyon Road in the area of the remote-controlled airplane airport, OCFA Capt. Sean Doran said. Officials said the fire was sparked by a county public works crew using heavy equipment. The cause was deemed accidental.

By Tuesday morning, the fire had raced up the canyons and hillsides and crested into Riverside County, burning toward the El Cariso and Lake Elsinore areas, where evacuation warnings and orders were issued.

Some 1,949 personnel were involved in the firefight, including 36 crews, 253 engines, 31 dozers, 15 water tenders and 10 helicopters. (With CNS report)