Lucerne Valley blaze out of control

A San Bernardino County fire that has spread over 400 acres was burning out of control Thursday in the foothills of Lucerne Valley, authorities said.

About 200 firefighters worked to contain the blaze after 60-mph winds fanned it across a sparsely populated area near the backside of the San Bernardino Mountains, said Bill Peters, a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.

The fire, which erupted about 3:30 p.m., was 50% contained and wasn’t threatening any buildings.

It broke out after lightning struck a power pole and caused an insulator to drop to the ground, Peters said.

Meanwhile, in Santa Barbara County, fire crews struggled down ridges Thursday to attack a 1,200-acre fire burning in rugged foothills about 15 miles north of Los Olivos.

The Zaca fire northwest of Santa Barbara was only 30% contained and had “potential to grow,” said county Fire Capt. Eli Iskow.

No buildings have been burned since the blaze began Wednesday, and there was no immediate threat to homes, ranches or wineries in the foothill area.

The fire was burning in drought-stricken lands covered with everything from chaparral to heavy stands of oaks, Iskow said.

It was mostly being fought from the air, because the steep and broken ground made it hard to get fire crews into position, Iskow said.

Some were being taken up to ridge tops so they could drag hoses down slope to flank the flames.

“You’ve got canyon next to canyon next to ridge next to meadows, and there’s no access,” Iskow said.

“You can’t get troops in there.... It becomes an air show. It’s moving over a large northern front, and it’s burning into these little finger canyons.”

Nevertheless, more crews were being sent in. The number of firefighters was expected to triple, reaching 800 to 1,000 by evening.

The area had highs in the 90s. Four firefighters have been treated for heat exhaustion and one for a cut finger since the blaze began.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation.