Miller Fire Now at 50% Containment as of Wednesday Afternoon, August 18th

Lake Silverwood, CA, August 18, 2010, 4:25pm – A wild land fire, being called the Miller Fire, started Tuesday, August 17, 2010, shortly before 5pm on the northern edge of Lake Silverwood, north of Crestline in the San Bernardino Mountains.  The fire was originally thought to be around 100 acres but as aerial inspection of the burn area, the Miller Fire has been downsized to 66 acres and as of Wednesday afternoon, is at 50% containment.  According to John Miller, Public Information Officer for the US Forest Service, full containment is expected by 6am Thursday morning.  No structures were involved in the fire and road closures were not necessary.  Additionally, no evacuations were issued for the area.  The cause of the fire is under investigation.  The Miller Fire is under the unified command of CAL FIRE and the US Forest Service who are jointly managing the fire and using local agencies to assist.  With the continued threat of thunderstorms and lightening, fire agencies are on alert and will be up in the air looking to see if any fire activity starts as a result of the weather.  In the last 24 hours, per John Miller, there have been 31 total local lightening strikes mostly east of Big Bear Lake.