Bridge Fire in California: Evacuations Lifted as Largest Wildfire Ends

The Bridge Fire, which ignited on September 8 in the San Gabriel Canyon area of Los Angeles County, has become California's largest active wildfire, burning 54,795 acres. Firefighters have made significant progress, achieving 65% containment as of the latest updates. The fire has resulted in five injuries and the destruction of 81 structures, with an additional 17 damaged. Evacuations were ordered for thousands of residents in affected communities, including Wrightwood and Mt., as the fire rapidly expanded from 4,000 acres to 34,000 acres within hours on September 10. As firefighting efforts intensified, the LA County Fire Chief sought assistance from Northern California and other states to combat the blaze. By September 14, containment efforts began to show progress, with the fire's containment increasing to 3%. As of the latest reports, nearly all evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted, although some areas, such as the Mile High area, remain under mandatory evacuation. Despite the lifting of most evacuation orders, some warnings are still in effect for Bear Canyon and the East Fork communities. Authorities have also closed Baldy, Wrightwood, and East Fork through the end of the year to facilitate recovery efforts in the landscape. The threat of thunderstorms has kept fire crews on high alert, as lightning strikes could reignite the fire. The situation highlights the challenges faced by firefighters and the community in managing wildfires, particularly in Southern California, where multiple fires were burning simultaneously. The recovery process for affected residents is ongoing, with resources available for both San Bernardino and LA County residents to assist in their return home and rebuilding efforts.