(Originally published at 3:49 p.m. PDT October 12, 2018)
Thanks at least in part to the prepositioning of several air tankers and an aggressive attack by firefighters on the ground, a fire that broke out Friday afternoon was hit with overwhelming force. As this is written at 3:49 p.m. Friday the North Park Fire has slowed considerably and the air tankers have returned to their bases.
The fire is north of San Bernardino, California on the edge of the San Bernardino National Forest. At 2:56 p.m. PDT the Forest Service reported that it was approximately 50 acres with a rapid rate of spread with no threat to structures. It was being fought by at least 150 firefighters and two helicopters. In addition, the air tankers working on the fire included a DC-10, a C-130, an MD87, and approximately three S-2Ts.
ABC7 reported that two individuals have been detained. It is not clear what role, if any, they may have had in regards to the fire.
Ms. Juarez’s video below is very impressive. She shrewdly began filming before the DC-10 Very Large Air Tanker was visible, and captured it as it emerged out of the smoke dropping retardant.
DC-10 just made a drop on the #NorthparkFire pic.twitter.com/BZGY5nua8N
— Leticia Juarez (@ABC7Leticia) October 12, 2018
Anticipating strong, dry, Santa winds beginning Sunday or Monday, the fire agencies moved several air tankers into Southern California.
Large airtankers mobilized to Southern California to boost wildfire preparedness. Santa Ana winds possible Sun-Tues https://t.co/LxRPxc1bIn pic.twitter.com/dav9woHKqa
— USFS Fire-California (@R5_Fire_News) October 10, 2018
#NorthParkFire – 50 acres, no containment
– No threat to structures
– Rapid rate of spread heading north in med. to heavy, extremely dry vegetation
– 150+ personnel on ground, 2 helicopters, 3 air tankers
– Cause under investigation pic.twitter.com/T1u0Li60af— Eric Vetere (@SBSOESevetere) October 12, 2018
