Crowded California tourist hotspot ignites fear of 'nightmare scenario' - as locals warn: 'People are gonna panic'
Locals who frequent a California tourist hotspot in the heart of Los Angeles National Forest are terrified that their family getaway destination will be eventually destroyed by wildfires blazing across the state.
Locals who frequent a California tourist hotspot in the heart of Los Angeles National Forest are terrified that their family getaway destination will be eventually destroyed by wildfires blazing across the state.
Eduardo Flores, 32, has spent summers in the East Fork of the San Gabriel River with his family since he was young, and this summer was no exception.
As Southern California experienced historic triple-digit temperatures, Flores and his family had driven from South LA to the East Fork area to cool off.
Flores recalled his trip to the area was disrupted on July 19 after finding themselves being evacuated as The Fork Fire erupted.
The Fork Fire burned 301 acres of land and was contained nine days later on July 28, according to The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.
Locals who visited the East Fork of the San Gabriel river were evacuated earlier in July as The Fork Fire erupted
It was scary. It was unexpected because we always come and nothing like that had happened, Eduardo Flores, 32, who was visiting at the time, said of the evacuation
Flores and his family returned to their usual vacation spot on September 7 and the very next day, The Bridge Fire broke out.
Flores told the SFGate: It was scary. It was unexpected because we always come and nothing like that had happened.
The manager of the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument for Angeles National Forest, Matthew Bokach, said an estimate of 3,000 to 5,000 people were in the area when the fire broke out, reported SF Gate.
Bokach told the outlet: When you’ve got something like that, my nightmare scenario has always been that the canyon is completely packed, no one can get in or out, and we have a fire break out on a slope right above the river,
People are gonna panic, they’re not going to be able to really get anywhere, either on foot or by car, he continued.
An estimate of 3,000 to 5,000 people were in the secluded area in the San Gabriel mountains when the fire broke out
The blaze destroyed at least 33 homes in the Wrightwood and Mt. Baldy areas as firefighters have now been able to reach a containment of three percent up from several days of zero percent
That’s always been sort of my biggest nightmare in the East Fork, and it’s not an infeasible possibility.
Currently, no accidents of injuries have been reported.
The Bridge Fire has spread across nearly 53,000 acres, reaching three percent containment Friday morning after several days at zero percent.
The blaze, originated in the Angeles National Forest on Sunday afternoon, and has destroyed at least 33 homes in the Wrightwood and Mt. Baldy areas, according to CBS News.
Cal Fire have said firefighters were able to contain more of the fire over Thursday night, aided by cooler temperatures and increased humidity.
The Fork Fire burned 301 acres of land and was contained nine days later on July 28
Evacuation warnings have been ordered across the Los Angeles County and the San Bernadino County with multiple care shelters and animal shelters available
However, spokesman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department, Eric Sherwin, warns that the fire still presents a very real threat despite the ease in temperatures, CBS News reported.
Officials said that on Tuesday a man was arrested in connection with the Line Fire, which is burning in the foothills of San Bernardino National Forest spanning more than 36,400 acres, according to NBC News.
Evacuation warnings have been ordered across the Los Angeles County and the San Bernadino County with multiple care shelters and animal shelters available.
