Every 20 Years: Wildland Fires in San Bernardino County

[@mamabird7134]

finding this 21 years later as the Line Fire burns is surreal. my mother was pregnant at the time of the Old Fire and I had grown up hearing stories about it. Now as an adult seeing the fires race through my neighborhood helps me get a little bit more of an understanding of what my family saw

[@TheLiberaceTheory]

I was 12 years old, living in Lake Arrowhead, when my family evacuated for the Old Fire. The fire burned to within 3/4 of a mile of the house I was born in. So I just want to say, as one of the people directly saved by your firefighting efforts, thank you for protecting my home. We were among the last people who evacuated through the Santa’s Village corridor to Big Bear and the 38. We got flanked by hundred foot tall flames on each side, and I had to breathe through the fur of a stuffed animal to keep from inhaling the ash. But we made it to the desert, and stayed in a hotel for weeks. And we were lucky enough to come back to our house. Many of my friends weren’t so lucky, and we never saw each other again- their houses burned down and they just never came back to school once it restarted. Those were incredible times. And thank you for fighting the Line Fire currently ranging through the same area again right now.

[@toddbefield1100]

The current "line fire" brings me right back to the "old fire" of 2003. Thought for sure our cabin was gone in Cedarpines Park. Turns out the fire missed us by 100 yards. Have since sold that cabin as fire threat just too much. Prayers to all on the mountain this time around!

[@jokker73]

Excellent video. The Grand Prix/Old Fire remains unforgettable.

[@mattg7952]

I have mixed feelings about the statements about getting out of the firefighters way. I was in the Old Fire as a civilian, a Navy fire fighting trained civilian. I was on Golondrina between Eureka and Foothill at my grandpa’s house putting out spot fires that broke out at his and a bunch of the neighbors houses. Everyone had evacuated and there were no fire trucks in the neighborhood. The palm trees were burning and blowing fire balls everywhere into yards igniting bushes and any flammable things they touched. I was prepared to leave if I had to but I didn’t. I saw houses burning three blocks over, west of Sterling Ave and held the line. I can’t say for sure how many houses I saved by myself but I know that the areas I put out fires and friends houses that I rigged with sprinklers didn’t burn down. The sad thing is those neighborhoods have deteriorated seriously in 20 years and if there was another incident like the Old Fire the property loss would be astronomical compared to what it was. There’s really nobody left who lived through it. My grandpa passed away a couple years ago and we sold the house and the new owners are a shining example of people who don’t care for a property. I tried warning them and other new residents that they need to make sure those houses are kept clear of debris and crap everywhere but they don’t care.

[@DavidWilson-eu1mv]

We lived just off of Sterling and Foothill. Our house survived but west of us 90% of the houses were gone. Had family in CDF and currently have a nephew who is a Captain with SB CO FIRE. I watched all those tankers and helicopters going right over my house.

[@aliciakatalina4875]

My sister who would have been 73 years old this September her and her husband lost their home on Ferndale in San Bernardino and that awful fire, they rebuilt a better home's but life was sad and never the same.

[@DavidWilson-eu1mv]

@@aliciakatalina4875 We lived on Newbury Ave. just below Foothill. That was a devastating fire for so many and several “fly by night contractors” doing the rebuilding. I’ll be 77 on Sep. 26th

[@firetrucksrule07]

Thank you for what you did to help those homes. You are a hero for sure.

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

There would be more ones for fire prevention If newsome didn’t spend millions on migrant hotels

[@BurtStalter]

Well the Line Fire is now added to the history

[@gontopee2400]

We had just moved up to running springs a month before the fires broke out in 03. Both the old fire in 03 and the slide fire in 07 we had to evacuate and luckily our house survived. Can't say the same for our neighbors

[@dripworks6659]

Thank god the Line Fire didn't start during the Santa Ana winds like the Old and Panorama Fires did at least...

[@larry7898]

Fantastic video. As a Foothills resident everyone of us should watch it!

[@chickensandgermansheps2662]

Watching this as the line fire is spreading. Now im scared. Hoping our firefighters are safe😊

[@mountainrescue777]

Me too

[@camaroboi13]

My parents lost their house in the Panorama fire, then we lost our house in the Old fire a few miles down the road from the first house. My son got evacuated from the line fire but looks like we broke the streak finally.

[@ivi244]

This is looking to age well. 2024, a little over 20 years, 7200 acre fire, 0% containment.

[@ruffhausmalinois]

You mean 17k plus acres now..... CalFire and everyone in Ca is corrupt as fuck

[@Vmaster005]

Yes this is the 20 year fire we haven't been wating for.

[@theorangegrape2068]

over 20000 now still 0%

[@sukihime15]

26,000 acres now

[@1k20a]

They don't want these fire contained, naturally the land has to burn, people build homes in the wrong areas and this whole fire fighting is a huge money making pit for everyone involved.

[@libertythrougharms795]

This is insane to think San Bernardino County Fire put his video out 9 months ago pretty much predicting another out of control fire last year. Well they were off by a year as its been 21 years and another catastrophic fire.

[@BreannaDaniel-e2h]

It's also insane that it's the first year no preventative measures were taken. No safety burns or brush clearing in communities like Mt baldy. And now the entire village is under fire and people are homeless and without.

[@mikeholmstrom1899]

We had lived in Upland CA, from 1984 to 1992. During that time, there was the Texas fire in 1988, that kept my scanner busy, units at scene kept asking for more help every 15 minutes, for a while. Locals also talked about the 1974 era fire, that covered a lot of the same area. I also remember a controlled burn in 1986, around San Dimas, where they said there had been no fires in decades.

[@firetrucksrule07]

2003 fire fighters and civilians learned a lot from the southern California fire storms that hit many area's. Was such a scary, horrific and terrifying time. The fire storm wasnt just here in San Berdino area but many others fire storm's. Bless those fire fighters from back then but as well the ones fighting fires this month in September 2024

[@leeshaver7825]

I remember the Panorama fire I was 12 years old and living in Big Bear with my mom and dad I remember the Sun newspaper doing a huge story on it in the paper I remember the photos in the story of them serving firefighters Thanksgiving meals on the fire lines

[@tomasstomjenkins]

I wish PBS would broadcast this video.

[@McPoshSquatch]

Well if it happens every 20 years or just about, then you should be prepared and have better land management of those areas, right?

[@frankramirez4818]

I remember being at Riverside Community College in Downtown Riverside and seeing the Old Fire start in San Bernardino. I later transferred to CSUSB in 2006. Had cancer and started again in 2007. Finished in 2009.

[@pjpugapillarfan2750]

That was such a huge fire the power co turned off all eletric to the mnt. My bff Refugeed down to the desert from CRESTLINE WHICH IS MY CHILDHOOD HOME STILL IS I PLAN TO GO BACK RETIRE! HI FIRE CAP.MIKE VASQUEZ SEE YOU SOMETIME BUDDY! HOPE YOUR GOOD I IN ALASKA NOW

[@BreannaDaniel-e2h]

This is all so triggering if you remember and experienced these fires in 2003. Now we are CURRENTLY reliving this very situation and oddly this is the 1 year no preventative measures were taken to protect communities like Mt baldy. No safety burns, no brush clearing... its a little odd and suspicious

[@juneyshu6197]

i just cant believe a 10 acre fire beside a main road can be allowed to grow this big.

[@tiffanyfree5135]

I remember seeing the 2003 fire on my way up 38 that morning, we could tell it was a big deal, left us with an ominous feeling. I was about 20, clocked into work and not even an hour later everyone was sent home for the mandatory evacuation of big bear. Such a terrible day. After that, weeks later, I walked along a neighborhood that had burned to the ground in Bluejay, a friend was taking pictures for the newspaper, and i saw a charred metal toy fire engine and that was such a heavy moment, i believe if im remembering right, a woman had burned to death in her bathtub trying to survive, and just standing there on that grey late afternoon looking down at that toy was so heavy, ill never forget it.

[@erpthompsonqueen9130]

Thank you. Watching from Alaska. 🤔

[@Daniilovesjesus_]

Who’s here because of the Line Fire? 👋

[@Brando-o1k]

We need to do something to protect the mountain community better. Even if we all have to pay extra to keep 0.2 miles of mountain cleared from every city up here

[@Flora-t4k]

Excellent work abilities of being human.

[@jerryhughes5380]

Where is THE U.S. Military? The Military has more large air tankers than anyone in the State of California. Cal Fire and San Bernardino County Fire can't control these fire with helicopters and the recent addition of referbished C130-H air tankers are apparently not making a difference in stopping these fires. All fires start small and anything thats wet can't burn. The Military C5A can be outfitted with a special foam system called MAFFS that spreads enviromentally safe firefighting foam to cover more surface area to drown out fires that threaten urban areas. The people of California just need the will to demand military air support to provide for their Homeland Security so it doesn't just exist in name only! Chief Hughes Battalion 1 (retired) Chicago FD

[@KTdesign1]

It’s San Bernardino, they’ve never cared about us and never will, unfortunately.

[@ladywisewolf3942]

One of the things that would make a real difference in fighting these fires are the Super Scoopers., S. Calif. used to lease them from Canada every year during our wildfire season and then a couple years ago they just stopped without explanation. California should OWN at least 6 of these aircraft to help with fires up and down the state. There is no excuse, we have wasted billions of dollars in this state on pet projects with no results or accountability as to what happened to the money. Why can't we spend money on something that really makes a difference to help people survive. BUY THE SUPER SCOOPERS !!

[@doreekaplan2589]

In San Diego today saw huge fire truck at the market with its crew of 7 firemen buying groceries like everyone else. Apparently they were not called to help with 3 massive fires not far away.

[@Deakybean181]

Welp folks! We've come full circle now! Bridge, Line, Airport. Ah...2024.

[@FeR-kt1jt]

RIP to Jose Navarro and the other souls lost in the mudslides on Christmas Day 2003 . 🕊️

[@doreekaplan2589]

My Marine husbands corp buddy has a son who grew up to be a Fire Chief, his dream, in Tempe, Arizona. He mostly deals with car crashes with few fires.

[@johnking6252]

With all the rain this past year it was inevitable, it's been that way since the 60's when we moved to SB co. The year of the Panorama fire was the same, the valley was surrounded with fires in the mountains all around. Not enough clearing the underbrush? Sad, but inevitable. ✌️

[@ruffhausmalinois]

God forbid we set up irrigation systems In rural areas. God forbid we initiate clearing crews every year. To clear brush and debris. God forbid we be prepared.

[@mattg7952]

Nice to see the video being recommended again. Go see my original comment from 2 months ago. One thing I've realized is that old saying you can't beat mother nature. I'm also currently watching the Line fire and having flashbacks of the Old fire. Except I've done my research since then and realized its just part of the cycle. Fires raged long before man existed. We control nothing, only interfere with the inevitable.

[@ruffhausmalinois]

Well your statement couldn't be any more incorrect.... The old fire was started by arson.

[@juneyshu6197]

Forbid we have panes, not trains. Forbid we put all resources in when they are smell.

[@Aaronestrela4196]

Just thankful that the winds are not active right now. I live right below the Cajon pass and if the bridge or line fire combine I'm toast.

[@ruffhausmalinois]

Well this aged well..... Old fire 2003.......devastating..... 2024 Line fire. Why the fuck don't we have clearing crews instead of letting Cali burn?

[@Photik]

Abolished by the state.

[@shawnrobinson5912]

This is the #1 reason I left California last year after living there for 48 years. I got sick and tired of dealing with the fires when I lived in Northern California. I lived in the middle of two major fires. When I moved to the town of Cool, California there was a major fire the day I moved in and another fire the following year!!! 😢😢😢 I don't know how people can continue to live like this, because year after year more and more fires continue to burn out of control all over California!😢😢

[@donofthejuan8839]

So we’re due?

[@espanola146]

surely it's happening now

[@Photik]

And it's here.

[@donofthejuan8839]

@@espanola146 yeah I’ve been covering the line, airport, and bridge fire for the past 3 days now. Crazy stuff

[@Vmaster005]

21 years later, the Line Fire is here and gonna cause heavy damage.

[@stevehorning8756]

Nice report!

[@chadwwwick]

Oh boy 😢 very scary

[@RichardGomez-wc3gr]

I remember when the old fire 🔥 started I was driving home from apple valley to north end San Bernardino I lived on 44th and electric I watched the fire 🔥 all day climb up the mountain from my front door apartment 2 story balcony it faces north I had a perfect view was ordered to evaluate do to smoke and direction of fire 🔥 coming down towards our neighborhood on electric st north end San Bernardino 😢 the whole top of Crestline at night was on fire 🔥 from east to west it raged nothing could stop it burning 🔥 for weeks it destroyed everything in its path 😢

[@slickrick2682]

So can someone explain how most of this fires just start out of no where?

[@frankblangeard8865]

Every twenty years if the years are only five months long.

[@doreekaplan2589]

This "disaster prone area" of San Diego IS semi desert...dry, dry, with us disallowed to use much water in homes, businesses. There ARE, however, many private golf courses and plenty of privately owned car washes, while, too, homes are told to use artificial turf and solely native plants in yards. ..

[@jennifertarin4707]

This was interesting to watch. My question is this. How do population shifts and climate change alter typical fire seasons and behavior? I am not from an area prone to wildfire and when one does occur, it is generally small (as is my state).

[@CGT80]

The climate hasn't changed that much, but the population here has exploded. We have always had extreme heat, winds, and dry conditions. The weather cycles over the years between wet and dry with some years more mild with cold and heat. Those housing tracts at the bottom of the hills did not really exist when I was a kid. Even the 210 freeway area was largely undeveloped and was part of the foothills that separated Fontana from the mountains. It was just Highland Ave, which was only a single lane in each direction at some points. Now, there are far more people living in the high fire danger areas, there is more demand for water, and there are more people to accidentally or purposely start fires and along with that are more potential sources such as equipment and power lines. If it is very hot and then santa ana winds come up, it is a perfect mix for fire. When we do have wet years, more brush grows, which always turns dry with the amount of heat we have, therefore more fuel. Our rain comes from December to April and then pretty much stops and it gets quite hot at the end of may or beginning of june. This is a desert. With so many people in the hills, they don't want the fires to burn because it causes human problems. The brush grows more than if fires burned naturally every so often. This is a harsh area, despite people thinking the weather is always great in SoCal. We can have heat like Arizona deserts but have areas of brush and forest full of fuel to burn. Fires are as normal as earthquakes here, and I don't get out of bed for anything less than a 6.0. It is like living in tornado or hurricane areas, I would imagine, where people do what they can but know it is part of life in that area.

[@russellm7530]

God bless all of the fire fighters and everyone affected by these fires. By the way most if these fires for many years are not normal and not caused by us creating co2. Its PLASMA FIRE.

[@priscillaross-fox9407]

There are patents for weather making

[@marknicolich5789]

funny comment on another fire video someone said they didn't have or need fire insurance because there was a fire hydrant next door to their home and response time to their address was 6 minutes..... lol right

[@robertmanella528]

When will people learn they don't belong in the forests!! If you move in a forest, it's all on you!!!

[@milesstover3724]

nowhere is totally safe. you sound goofy.

[@shelleybartlett6483]

I live in the forest and would not move back to ghetto San Bernardino, Higland anywhere in the I.E. I lived in Yucaipa 36 years and it’s fine to crap with development. I know the risk living in Crestline and will take it over the mess the valley has become.

[@kirataylor4981]

I’d rather live amoungst the trees than trash. Seriously the cities stink! I think the worst part is people from the cities trash the mountains everytime it snows……it’s also morons who start these fires most of the time.

[@-_oOtianaOo_-]

I just moved here because I was tired of the crime and living in survival mode. Living here was a dream of mine, a better life, and a better chance for my children and their future. Everyone is so kind and so nice . I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. My kids love the schools and are happy. The beauty and the peace. Who would want to live anywhere else? We are finally happy and finally can breathe . Living in a crime gang filled crap area , I would choose this life over the one we had. Edit typo

[@louisyah]

And we ain’t racist we love all people, but the truth is the truth

[@rondalynkline5161]

Please save Bug Bear!,,,!

[@louisyah]

Google 1492 NC who was here first

[@louisyah]

All you have to do is read Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 15 -68 God says who’s his people are

[@louisyah]

The first white person wasn’t recorded in this land until 1682

[@AntoineWilliams7118]

Why doesn’t newsome spend money for fire prevention? Oh because he spent all the money o his winery and for migrant hotels.

[@lmcg....]

😂

[@ugoboss9432]

To a T

[@nickfromm5315]

It's very dangerous to say things like "every 20 years" because this means if you have faith that it will happen- it will happen. you shouldn't make dangerous claims like this!!

[@stevehorning8756]

That's not God, it's pure superstition!

[@pourplecat]

It's based on the amount of potential fuel that collects, and roughly every 20 years, there is enough shrubs to start a large fire. It's not like people will prophesy its going to happen for no reason, its what happens in nature. I would argue it's much better to be prepared than to pretend that nothing will happen until it does and catches you off guard.

[@louisyah]

I guess all the nations in America wanna be like Egypt you see what he did keep playing with him

[@louisyah]

All of America belong to the 10 tribes

[@louisyah]

This whole earth is gonna get destroyed because of racism keep playing with God

[@Crystal-w7e]

Black hebrew Israelite are funny. They quote the bible but have never read it front to back.. read the Bible bro. You take it out of context 100%

[@rudem.2973]

If I had the money. I would built a CONCRETE AND STEEL HOUSE , right in the middle of forest trees. The house will not burn down. The reason this type of house will not burn down is because Fire from a forest fire can not burn concrete. The steel would be one foot inside the concrete to prevent the steel from getting hot and melting. Even the doors to the house would be fire proof. The shape of the house would be symalar to a indian type of teepea. Or like a pyamid. The inside of the house would have fire proof and resistance walls. For perfect air quality the house would have a solar powered type of clean air venting machine. So pure clean breathable air will be mass produced by converting water into clean air. The same system that a Navy Submarine uses. By converting water into breathable air. All the furniture in the house would be fire resistant. All the gas lines would be turned off. Plus the house would also have a concrete and steel cylander escape tunnel that go's to the nearest lake. Just in case , I need to safely evacuate. My house will still be standing after the forest fire leaves. I would show the home owners insurance my house plans. So getting home owners insurance should not be a problem. CONCRTE , STEEL FRAME WITH MOTAR AND BRICK . Is the best way to have a house built living in a forest. Why not do things right the first time. Rather then watch your beautiful house burn to the ground. Then beg to get a loan just to build your house out of cheap burnable wood again and watch it burn to ashes. This seems really dumb to me. Notice all the big rocks and big boulders all around your house. After each fire these same big rocks and boulders are still there. The forest fire can not burn these big rocks and boulders. So nature is telling us to build a house out of Thick Concrete and steel frame. Very simple. This is if I had the money. I would easily buy twenty acres of land directly under forest trees. With a huge mansion built out of Concrete and Steel frame. With a 50 foot deep hole that go's to a twenty foot round tunnel that go's to the lake. With a steel frame and three foot thick concrete surrounding wall. The house would have a huge concree closed tank of water. The water would be converted into breathable clean air. The same system a Navy Sbmarine uses. All fire proof furniture. With a fire proof roof. After leaving my fire proof Concrete and steel frame house in the forest. Would come back after one month. My fire proof house made of three foot thick Concrete and steel frame house will still be standing. Just like a big rock or big boulder in the forest. What would put out all forest fires very fast. Is big under ground pipes all the way to the ocean. Have a solar powered vacum suck up ocean water and rain this ocean water to any area where a new fire is starting in the forest. These would go on once a certain tempature of heat is reached. Now all hard areas to be reached will be hit by ocean water. Very simple.

[@louisyah]

And we ain’t racist we love all people, but the truth is the truth

[@louisyah]

Google 1492 NC who was here first

[@louisyah]

The first white person wasn’t recorded in this land until 1682

[@louisyah]

I guess all the nations in America wanna be like Egypt you see what he did keep playing with him

[@louisyah]

All you have to do is read Deuteronomy chapter 28 verse 15 -68 God says who’s his people are

[@louisyah]

This whole earth is gonna get destroyed because of racism keep playing with God