Big Bear Lake, Snow Summit Resort Threatened By Fast-Moving Fire [Updated]

Snow Summit Ski Resort near Big Bear Lake is being threatened by a rapidly-moving brush fire, according to a report from KTLA 5 News. Yet another in a series of California wild fires, the fire (dubbed The Summit Fire) reportedly broke out around 12:30 p.m. PST near Pine Knot Avenue and Knickerbocker Road and spread from a quarter-acre to over 10 acres in less than an hour, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

Buildings at Big Bear Lake’s Snow Summit Ski Resort are reportedly being threatened by the fire.

According to statements from Carol Underhill, public information officer for the San Bernardino National Forest, three air tankers are making water drops while ground units on the scene attempt to contain the blaze while awaiting reinforcements. The fire is burning through a combination of tinder and brush, and flames are “burning with a moderate rate of spread in moderate to heavy fuels,” according to the government’s InciWeb information system.

Meanwhile, mandatory evactuation notices have been issued for the Big Bear Lake/Snow Summit area from Knickerbocker Road east to Georgia Road and south of Pennsylvania Road to the forest boundary.

The Press Enterprise spoke with Katherin Jasperson, an employee at the nearby Big Bear Marina, just north of the fire.

“It’s really smoky. The smoke was white, now it’s a musty gray color.”

The temperature in the area is around 80°F, with humidity at 15 percent and winds of 10 mph from the north. The cause of the fire is still unknown.

The Inquisitr will continue to follow this story as it develops.

Update: According to a report from the San Bernardino Sun, the fire has now grown to 25 acres.

Update no. 2: One day later, the Summit Fire has burned more than 100 acres in Big Bear. The fire is presently 30% contained, but still burning and some 400-500 homes are threatened, according to KTLA 5.

While there have been no immediate reports of injuries, 14 refugees have registered at the American Red Cross shelter near the Big Bear Lake Convention Center.

Four forest roads – 2N06 (Radford), 1N54 (Clarks Grade), 2N93 (Wildhorse) and 2N10 (Skyline), have also been closed by the fire.

By evening, eight aircraft had been brought in; four fixed-wing tankers and four helicopters, dropping water and retardant. Twelve engines, five fire crews, a bulldozer and a water tender were also on hand to fight the fire.

All Bear Valley Unified School District campuses were closed Monday, with the exception of Fallsvale School. Investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing.

[Image courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service]