Fire Crews Contain Southern California Blaze That Forced Evacuations

(Left) A brush fire is seen spreading in a suburban neighborhood in San Bernardino, Calif., on Aug. 5, 2024. (Right) Structures detroyed by a brush fire in San Bernardino, Calif., are seen on Aug. 6, 2024. (Courtesy of San Bernardino Police Department)

A brush fire in southern California on Aug. 5 prompted evacuations as the blaze spread across a suburban neighborhood roughly 60 miles east of Los Angeles.

Evacuations were ordered for residents in the immediate fire area, near Beverly Drive and West Edgehill Road in San Bernardino, according to Cal Fire.

A Red Cross shelter was set up at Cajon High School nearby as an overnight shelter, according to a social media statement from the San Bernardino Police Department.

County fire personnel and city police officers worked through the night to ensure public safety and containment of the fire, authorities said.

The fire was 75 percent contained by 7 a.m. on Aug. 6, according to a statement on X from the San Bernardino County Fire Protection District.

Arson investigators are assessing the scene, and the cause of the fire is still under investigation, the department said. They said a person of interest had been detained but was released.

“At this point, the fire is very much under control,” the department said in its statement.

According to the fire agency, the fire consumed 100 acres, less than a quarter of a square mile, Cal Fire reported.

An update from city police on social media confirmed the containment and said no civilians had been injured. One firefighter received minor injuries, police said.

Fire and law enforcement personnel will remain in the area due to temperatures in the 100s, the department said.

Authorities said the origin of the fire had been narrowed to the “general area” of the 3300 block of Beverly Drive.

Cajon High School has been designated as a reception center for residents to receive updates on the fire.

Officials are still surveying the damage. It was unclear on Tuesday how many houses had been destroyed.

The San Bernardino Edgehill fire occurred during a rough fire season for California. North of Sacramento in Butte, Plumas, Shasta, and Tehama counties, the ongoing Park fire is still raging at just 34 percent containment and has destroyed nearly 650 square miles, becoming the fourth largest fire in California’s history, according to Cal Fire.