Mountain Blaze Burns 700 Acres
A fire set to burn thick brush in the San Bernardino National Forest leaped over a road and spread Friday to about 700 acres.
The fire raced up Keller Ridge, close to a historic San Bernardino Mountains fire lookout tower that was built in 1926, said Ruth Wenstrom, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forest Service. It was 10% contained by Friday night.
An unoccupied homestead with a barn, cabin and shed burned, but no homes were in immediate danger, Wenstrom said.
The fire broke out along the northeast corner of the controlled burn area and spread north, toward a campground and the lookout tower.
A group of 60 students was evacuated Thursday from the campground on Keller Peak.
No injuries were reported.
Five air tankers and six helicopters were brought in to fight the blaze.
Running Springs resident Gary Harper said a “large plume of thick, brown smoke” could be seen late Thursday from his house, about 10 miles from the fire.
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