Multiple Fires Put Out in Inland Empire, Including 10-Acre Blaze in Cajon Pass
A blaze in Devore burned about 10 acres, and another fire burned in Upland
A fire in the Cajon Pass had spread from Interstate 15 up a small canyon, burning 10 acres.
A fire that blackened 10 acres in the Cajon Pass Wednesday afternoon burned an outbuilding and damaged a barn, according to the San Bernardino Count Fire Department.
The blaze began at about 3:15 p.m. in the Devore area near Interstate 15 and Kenwood Avenue (map) was quickly followed by two smaller fires farther up the freeway, said Tracey Martinez, a spokeswoman for the department.
The larger fire, which investigators said was started accidentally, prompted a strong response because it comes as the worst of fire season begins, Martinez said.
"We had a very large response very quickly. That's going to be very common throughout fire season," Martinez said.
Aerial video showed a blackened and smoking canyon area next the freeway, with multiple structures on the canyon's edge apparently burned.
The northbound 15 was backed up for miles. The blaze was about 1 mile north of the 215 interchange.
Evacuations were initially ordered for homes and a school south of Kenwood Avenue, but they were quickly canceled, Martinez said.
The two smaller fires were put out at about a 1/2 acre each by U.S. Forest Service firefighters, Martinez said.
Also on Wednesday afternoon, San Bernardino County firefighters were joined by crews from other agencies to put out a blaze in San Antonio Heights at the top of Euclid Avenue in Upland, in a hillside area with million-dollar homes.
That blaze grew to 1 1/2 acres, Martinez said.
"If the Santa Ana winds were blowing, these fires would have ended up much differently," she added.
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