Bridge Fire 71% Contained

Containment of the Bridge Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument has grown to 71% Monday as crews continued efforts to put out hot spots and extend lines of cleared vegetation around the burned area.

The fire in the Sheep Mountain Wilderness has burned 54,877 acres and had threatened 4,409 structures. It has destroyed 81 structures and damaged 17 others, officials said.

"Current fire conditions show limited heat sources, allowing resources to hold direct lines and complete indirect lines in critical areas," officials said in a statement released Saturday night. "Current weather observations include good humidity recovery over the fire footprint."

Firefighters warned that warm and dry conditions were forecast to return through next week.

Crews were also going to continue cutting down fire-weakened trees. "Heavy dead and downed trees will continue to smolder. Rolling debris has potential to ignite fuel or cause injury," officials said. Firefighters were also mopping up and patrolling in recently re-populated communities.

The evacuation warning for Baldy Village, from the dam north to the ski resort and San Antonio Canyon to the east, was lifted Friday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department reported. The evacuation warning for Wrightwood has also been lifted while Bear Canyon remains under an evacuation warning.

The blaze began at 2:12 p.m. on Sept. 8 near East Fork and Glendora Mountain roads, according to forest officials. The fire initially remained relatively small, but exploded in size at the tail end of an extended heat wave on Sept. 10, destroying dozens of structures as it marched into San Bernardino County.

It is the largest active fire in the state.

Road closures were in effect at the following locations:

— Big Pines Highway;

— Big Rock Creek Road;

— Largo Vista Road;

— Mescal Creek Road;

— Panorama Motorway;

— State Route 39 at the base of San Gabriel Canyon;

— Glendora Mountain Road north of Big Dalton Road;

— Westbound state Route 2 at Flume Canyon Road.

There were 1,799 personnel assigned to the fire.

Five firefighters have been injured battling the blaze, officials said. There were no civilian injuries reported.

The fire was being battled in a unified command consisting of Cal Fire San Bernardino, the Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, San Bernardino County Fire Department and San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

The Bridge Fire was one of three large wildfires burning in Southern California. The Line Fire had burned 39,232 acres in San Bernardino County and was 67% contained, while the Airport Fire in Orange and Riverside counties had burned 23,519 acres and was at 81% containment.

The cause of the Bridge Fire has not been determined.