Miller Fire Holding at 100 Acres

Lake Silverwood, CA, August 18, 2010, 11:30am – A wild land 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, now known as the Miller fire, burned upslope towards Forest Road 2N33 in steep rocky terrain, burning in chaparral with approximately a 7 year growth and is now at 100 acres and is not growing according to John Miller, Public Affairs for the US Forest Service.  No structures have been involved in the fire and road closures were not necessary.  Additionally, no evacuations have been necessary with this fire and smoke is no longer visible.  Firefighters made excellent progress overnight and held the fire within the burned area. Containment is now estimated to be at 16% but that figure is expected to rise today once aerial over flights are conducted.  Fire crews continue to improve the fire line using 2 sky cranes, the Heaps Peak helicopter and 1 air attack airplane.  A total of 434 personnel have been assigned to the fire with 18 hand crews, 18 engines, 1 dozer and 6 water tenders.  Lake Silverwood State Recreation area was closed for a short time for water dropping aircraft but the area has now re-opened.  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.  As US Forest Service PIO, John Miller, explains when they are informed that storms are coming, fire agencies are on alert and will be up in the air looking to see if any fire activity starts as a result of thunderstorms.  He adds that over the last 24 hours there have been 31 total local lightening strikes mostly east of Big Bear Lake.  The Miller fire is under investigation.