Big Bear News – Big Bear Lake, CA – September 16, 2022 – Containment of the Radford Fire is at 87% with full containment expected by September 30th of the 1,079 acre fire.
September 12 2022, 8:00 AM – l Schools within the Bear Valley Unified School district will resume normal classes today. Overall, conditions to improve on the Radford fire. Thus far this fire has consumed 1,079 acres and remains 65% contained at this time. A total of 461 personnel remain assigned to this fire including several engines, water tenders, a dozen hand crews along with several aircraft. The cause of this fire remains under investigation.
So far, the fire perimeter has held with minor slop over in spots which firefighters have been able to construct a line around and mop up to strengthen containment lines. On the north side of the fire there continues to be some heat in heavy dead and downed fuels with some rollout that has tested the lines in very steep terrain but poses no threat. There has also been activity in ground fuels on the southern edge of the fire with roll-out presenting a minimal threat. Overall, fire activity has been reduced due to recent rains, though areas of burnout within containment lines may occasionally put up drift smoke visible from the Big Bear Valley and is no cause for concern. Aircraft will continue dousing hotspots while ground crews work on increasing containment lines.
The forecast is calling for below-normal temperatures today with scattered showers and thunderstorms during the afternoon which may restrict air operations. The forest closure remains in effect on all forest lands south of the Big Bear Valley and north of Hwy 38. All Schools within the Bear Valley Unified School district will resume normal classes today.
Big Bear News – Big Bear Lake, CA – Sunday, September 11, 2022 – Classes will resume on Monday, September 12th for students enrolled in the Bear Valley Unified School District. Fire Chief Willis has confirmed with Superintendent Dr. Mary Suzuki that it is safe for schools to reopen. The Radford Fire is at 69% containment and 1,079 acres. The fire perimeter remained mostly unchanged. A small “slop-over” was reported on the northern side of the fire, which was likely caused by ember cast or rolling burning material. Firefighters were able to construct line around it, secure it, and mop up to strengthen the containment line. On the southern edge, ground resources work to backhaul hose and prepare for suppression repair efforts. Suppression repair includes hauling out fire hoses, and beginning repairs to fire lines and access roads. Road repair involves cleaning out culverts and drains of debris and dirt, pulling back berms where dozers graded roads and chipping all cut vegetation along roads. The Radford Fire area received 0.33 inch of rain yesterday from Tropical Storm Kay. Some heat remains in downed fuels and stump holes within the interior. There is no threat to the fire perimeter, however firefighters continue to search out and to extinguish these heat sources.
Saturday September 10, 2022 5:00 am – Resources will continue to go direct on the fire taking advantage of the favorable weather conditions. Additional crews and engines will continue to strengthen control lines and mop up to further secure control lines. Due to weather concerns crews will implement severe weather contingencies if needed. Tropical Storm Kay will continue to weaken and pull away from Baja tonight and Saturday, but will spin bands of scattered showers and thunderstorms over the region through the weekend. Cooler temperatures will prevail over the fire Saturday along with gusty east/southeast winds. Bands of heavier showers or thunderstorms that may form over the fire may produce localized flash flooding and debris flows over the recently burned soils. Expect temperatures on Saturday in the low to mid 60’s.
Sarah Benson, NSES Boosters President, oversees student’s “Thank You” posters for firefighters. 
NSES 5th graders and BBMS 6th graders create posters to be presented at the Big Bear Fire Camps. 
Finley Devito is all smiles for the Radford Firefighters and Safety Officers.
UPDATE: Big Bear News – Big Bear Lake, CA – Friday , September 9, 2022 10:00 am – Containment is 59% the size is 1088 acres, there are 632 personnel currently working the fire. Resources will continue to take advantage of the favorable weather conditions to strengthen control lines and mop up. The remnants of Hurricane Kay will bring increasing clouds, cooler temperatures and higher humidity along with scattered showers and thunderstorms. Increasing winds will lead to gusty conditions in the higher terrain through mid-afternoon with showers and thunderstorms leading to potential flash flooding and debris flows over burned terrain. A Flash Flood Watch is in effect in the fire area through Saturday evening. Click here for the evacuation map.
UPDATE: Big Bear News – Big Bear Lake, CA – Thursday, September 8, 2022, 5:00pm – Today’s Town Hall Meeting was well attended by both the public and safety personnel to disseminate information regarding the Radford Fire and answer questions from the public. Fire authority personnel indicated that the main concern for tomorrow is the expected high winds coming from the East that has the potential to push the fire West into thick timber where the terrain is steep and rocky. Today’s change of weather and rain certainly helped firefighting efforts and crews are working hard to maintain the work they’ve already done along the lines. But, it was stressed that we are not out of the woods yet. The next 24 hours will be crucial. There was little growth of the fire today which remains at 1100 acres and 2% containment. Also, Caltrans announced that Highway 38 is now open in both directions but they caution motorists to be mindful of the previous burn areas along that route as heavy rain is expected over the weekend. And, as of 1pm today, all evacuation orders have been downgraded to evacuation warning.
Thursday, September 8, 2022 As of 1:00 pm, all evacuation orders put in place for the Radford Fire have been downgraded to EVACUATION WARNINGS. Areas under
Click here for Evacuation Map EVACUATION WARNING are:
• Glass Rd to South Fork River Rd
• Beverly Lane south to 2N10 and 2N08 west to Castlerock
• Summit Blvd east to Club View and Evergreen Dr south
• Club View east to Angels Camp Rd and Vine Ave south to Lassen Dr.
• Summit Blvd east to McAllister Rd, east of Hwy 18, and Fox Farm Rd south to Evergreen Rd
These areas are open to RESIDENTS ONLY. Please use caution when returning to your homes and be mindful of emergency personnel and equipment still working in the area.
Thursday, September 8, 2022 7:00 am – The Radford Fire is 1100 acres and 2% contained. Rain, cooler temperatures and higher humidity aided firefighting efforts. The Public is invited to a Town Hall meeting for updates and information on the Radford Fire that will take place today at 3:00 PM in the Performing Arts Center at the Big Bear Lake Civic Center. The Meeting will be in person or online at www.facebook.com/bigbearfire. The City along with Big Bear Fire Department, The Big Bear Lake Sheriff’s Department and Visit Big Bear began messaging earlier this week requesting that visitors remain home until it is safe to visit Big Bear.
Wednesday, September 7, 2022, 6:26 pm. The Public is invited to a Town Hall meeting for updates and information on the Radford Fire that will take place Thursday afternoon 3:00 PM in the Performing Arts Center at the Big Bear Lake Civic Center. The Incident Command Center for the fire is being located at Snow Summit to enable faster response in a better and cooler environment for the personnel working the fire.
Wednesday, September 7, 2022, 12:30pm – The Radford Fire is estimated to be at 990 acres with 2% containment. The fire is burning actively in the Converse Creek drainage of the Santa Ana River watershed which is steep and difficult to access with dense vegetation and little recorded fire history. Firefighters are engaging on all sides of the current fire perimeter. Reduced fuel along the northern edge of the fire is slowing down the fire intensity and allowing firefighters to “go direct” and halt fire progress where it is burning. While firefighters are working on the ground aided by water-dropping helicopters, fire managers are devising a strategic plan to put the fire out. There are no new evacuation orders as of yet today.
Bear Valley Unified School District schools will remain closed on Thursday, September 8th and Friday, September 9th this week. Superintendent Dr. Mary Suzuki and Fire Chief Willis will determine the status of students returning to school next week in the coming days as they closely follow the status of Radford Fire.
Wednesday, September 7th, 9am – The Radford Fire, located north of Highway 38 in the Barton Flats Area, has burned north onto the slope near Snow Summit Ski Resort. A full response of engines and aircraft continue to respond to the fire which is now estimated to be at 990 acres with 2% containment.
Wednesday, September 7, 2022, 7am – The fire is currently estimated at 917 acres with 2% containment. Several evacuation orders and warnings were ordered yesterday by the San Bernardino County Sheriff Department. The mandatory evacuation areas include Summit Blvd East to Club View and Evergreen Drive South as well as areas south of Big Bear Boulevard from Pine Knot South to Skyline Road (2N10) and from Knickerbocker West to Castle Rock. At 5:30 pm yesterday, they added an evacuation warnings for additional areas from Club View to Angels Camp and from Vine to Lassen; and for Summit Blvd to McAllister Road to Highway 18 between Fox Farm and Evergreen. You can view the evacuation zones on our website at kbhr933.com. Also, there is no school today for students enrolled in the Bear Valley Unified School District. Tonight’s regularly scheduled meeting of the school board is canceled as the District Office is located in the evacuation warning zone.
Tuesday 9/6/2022, 7:15 PM – The Radford Fire size has grown to 917 acres with 0% containment.
Tuesday, 4:30pm – NEW EVACUATION ORDER: An evacuation order now in effect for Summit Blvd East to Club View and Evergreen Drive South. The previously established evacuation order remains in effect. The Radford Fire is now at 700 acres. The winds have shifted to an on shore flow moving the fire to the east and north and putting additional smoke in the Big Bear Valley. Out of an abundance of caution, Chief Jeff Willis of Big Bear Fire has recommended that Bear Valley Unified Schools close on Wednesday, September 7th. There will be no school for students tomorrow in the Big Bear Valley.
Tuesday, 12:15pm – The Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System (FIRIS) has now mapped the Radford Fire at 647 acres and remains at 0% containment.
Tuesday, 11:20am – EVACUATION ORDER called for some areas of Big Bear including areas south Big Bear Boulevard from Pine Knot South to Skyline Road (2N10) and from Knickerbocker West to Castle Rock according to the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department. The area of greatest concern are the camps and campsites west of 2N10 and South of Big Bear Boulevard. The Red Cross will be staging at Big Bear High School beginning at 12noon for evacuees.
Tuesday, September 6, 2022 – 10:45am – The size of the Radford Fire is now at 450 acres with 0% containment. There are currently 10 engines, 6 crews, 6 water tenders, and 1 dozer assigned, along with aircraft including the DC3 Very Large Aircraft and large Skycrane Helicopters. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) and any private aircraft or drone that violates the TFR could face serious criminal charges. The San Bernardino Sheriffs Department has issued evacuation orders for the area between Glass Road and South Fork River Road. At this time there are no evacuation orders for Big Bear. Highway 38 remains closed from Angelus Oaks to Lake Williams.
Tuesday, September 6, 2022, 6:30am – It was an intense overnight fight of the Radford Fire by fire crews as the fire has grown and is now at 330 acres. More details are now known about the fire. It was reported at 1:30pm on September 5th by a Forest Service helicopter while doing lightning reconnaissance. The fire is burning in an area of fuel described as timber and located north of Highway 38 in the Barton Flats area. A full response of engines and aircraft responded to the fire with 350 personnel. There are currently 10 engines, 6 crews, 6 water tenders and 1 dozer assigned along with aircraft. The San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department has issued evacuation orders for the area between Glass Road and South Fork River Road. Highway 38 is closed from Angeles Oakes to Lake Williams. Weather is expected to continue to be hot and dry today through Friday. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Monday, September 5, 2022, 7:25pm – Fire mapping has revised the size of the Radford Fire to 75 acres from 100 to 150 acres after some of the smoke has cleared for a better view. Air attack has requested a nighttime helicopter and air attack for tonight’s attack on the fire.
Monday, September 5, 2022, 6:52pm – The Radford Fire is now at 100 to 150 acres with torching and spotting over 2N06. Fire crews main concern is the western flank coming up behind Snow Summit which is now their main focus. Heavy retardant is being dumped on the back side of Snow Summit to stop the spread. Once night falls, there will be some infrared (IR) night flying aircraft.
Monday, September 5, 2022, 6pm – Evacuations have been put in place for the communities of Seven Oakes and Barton Flats. Highway 38 is fully closed in both directions to through traffic to/from Big Bear. The latest report states that the fire is at 50 acres with a moderate rate of spread but it has the potential to reach 500+ acres. The fire has burned through the retardant line on the west side and spotting continues to be a problem.
Monday, September 5, 2022, 5:00pm – With a slight shift of winds, smoke from the Radford Fire is prominent in the Big Bear Valley. The fire is at 50 acres with a moderate rate of spread.
Monday, September 5, 2022, 4:30pm – The Radford Fire is now at 35 acres and still backing down the mountain away from the Big Bear Valley to the southwest towards Barton Flats. Boaters should avoid the eastern end of Big Bear Lake as water dropping aircraft are collecting lake water to combat the fire.
Monday, September 5, 2022. 3:00pm – The fire is now at 20 to 25 acres but crews are making good progress and the Radford Fire is pushing in a southwestern direction away for the Big Bear Valley.
Monday, September 5, 2022, 2:50pm – Fire crews are making good progress on the Radford Fire now at 10 to 15 acres.
Monday, September 5, 2022, 2:30pm – The Radford Fire is about 5 to 10 acres moving southwest downhill backed by east-northeast winds. The fire is generally pushing away from Big Bear and is not considered a threat to the Valley at this time.
Monday, September 5, 2022, 2:15pm – A total of 4 air tankers and 4 helicopters are enroute as fire crews hit the Radford Fire now at approximately 3 to 4 acres.
Monday, September 5, 2022, 2:00pm Smoke is visible in the Big Bear Valley from a fire being called the Radford Fire behind the ski resorts between Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. Crews are responding to the scene. Aircraft is hitting the North and West flank of the fire with easterly winds on it while ground crews work on hose lays. The size of the fire is estimated to be at 1 to 2 acres at this time.
