Holcomb Fire Morning Update

Release Date: Jun 22, 2017

SAN BERNARDINO, California, June 22, 2017 – Today, access to the Big Bear City Transfer Station is open only for Big Bear Disposal and Big Bear City Community Service District vehicles. Normal residential refuse disposal will resume. The Transfer Station remains closed to the general public.

Firefighters continue to battle warm temperatures and difficult terrain while fighting the 1,540 acre Holcomb Fire north of Baldwin Lake in the Big Bear Lake area. The highest priority is to protect the safety of fire personnel and to protect human life followed by the protection of private property and structures.

Weather forecasts indicate heat will continue through Friday. Strong high pressure and winds are expected to develop into the afternoon and evening. Communities north of the greater San Bernardino area should be aware of increased smoke levels. Mojave Desert Air Quality Management has issued a health advisory near Phelan. More information available here: http://bit.ly/2sFceSy

Highway 18 remains closed between the Mitsubishi Cement Plant and Delta Avenue near Baldwin Lake. Please be aware of increased traffic on mountain highways due to the Highway 18 closure.  Several forest roads including Van Duesen Canyon (3N09) and Holcomb Valley Road East (3N16) are closed, as well as a section of the popular Pacific Crest Trail between Highway 18 and Van Duesen Canyon Road. 

Given the critically dry and receptive fuel types, residents and visitors should continue to be aware of fire conditions and be prepared if changes or new fire threatens the community. 

For more information please visit us at http://inciweb.nwcg.gov/ , call us at 909-383-5688 or follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/SanBernardinoNF

About the U.S. Forest Service:

The mission of the U.S. Forest Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, is to sustain the health, diversity and productivity of the nation's forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, and maintains the largest forestry research organization in the world. Public lands the Forest Service manages contribute more than $13 billion to the economy each year through visitor spending alone. Those same lands provide 20 percent of the nation's clean water supply, a value estimated at $7.2 billion per year. The agency has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 80 percent of the 850 million forested acres within the U.S., of which 100 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.

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