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Every 20 Years: Wildland Fires in San Bernardino County

San Bernardino County Fire

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Approximately every 20 years, a large campaign fire takes place in the San Bernardino County mountains.

This short documentary examines the recurring pattern of wildfires in the San Bernardino Mountains. Through historical context and personal narratives, this film sheds light on the challenges faced by firefighters, residents, and first responders as they contend with these large fires.

The film explores the events surrounding the 2003 Grand Prix Fire and its merger with the Old Fire, resulting in widespread destruction, as well as the 1980 Panorama Fire. It underscores the importance of preparedness and defensible space in mitigating wildfire risks for residents in this disaster-prone region.

This documentary provides a look at the cyclical nature of wildfires in San Bernardino County, emphasizing the need for ongoing vigilance and community resilience in the face of this natural phenomenon.

Create a Ready! Set! Go! Wildfire Safety Plan: http://sbcfire.co/wildfire

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Credits

News Footage/Photos
CBS 2
NBC 4
ABC 7
KCAL 9
FOX 11
CNN
San Bernardino County Sun
Press Enterprise

Agencies
US Forest Service
San Bernardino County Sheriff
CalFire
CalTrans

YouTube Footage

Panorama Fire 1980
Panorama Fire 1980

2003 Scenes from the Fire Storm
2003 Scenes from the Fire Storm

The Old Fire 2003... Neighborhoods Ablaze
The Old Fire 2003... Neighborhoods Ablaze

Old Fire Oct/Nov. 2003 San Bernardino Mountains in S. California
Old Fire Oct/Nov. 2003 San Bernardino Moun...

Grand Prix Fire Video
Grand Prix Fire Video

Southern California Firestorms, October 24-27, 2003 (Volume 1 of 3)
Southern California Firestorms, October 24...

Countdown to calamity
Countdown to calamity

Websites
History of Wildfires:
https://projects.capradio.org/califor...

FEMA National Risk Index
https://hazards.fema.gov/nri/map

Google Earth
https://www.google.com/earth/studio/

Footage
Troy Case
Captain Wilkins
Alan Simmons Productions

Editors
Kyle White
Ryan White

Special Thanks
Anthony Muscarello
Jim Topoleski
Gary Bush
Steve Tracey
Jason Serrano

20 Comments

@TheLiberaceTheory 2 years ago

I was 12 years old, living in Lake Arrowhead, when my family evacuated for the Old Fire. The fire burned to within 3/4 of a mile of the house I was born in. So I just want to say, as one of the people directly saved by your firefighting efforts, thank you for protecting my home.

We were among the last people who evacuated through the Santa’s Village corridor to Big Bear and the 38. We got flanked by hundred foot tall flames on each side, and I had to breathe through the fur of a stuffed animal to keep from inhaling the ash.

But we made it to the desert, and stayed in a hotel for weeks. And we were lucky enough to come back to our house. Many of my friends weren’t so lucky, and we never saw each other again— their houses burned down and they just never came back to school once it restarted.

Those were incredible times.

And thank you for fighting the Line Fire currently ranging through the same area again right now.

@BurtStalter 2 years ago

Well the Line Fire is now added to the history

@mamabird7134 2 years ago

finding this 21 years later as the Line Fire burns is surreal. my mother was pregnant at the time of the Old Fire and I had grown up hearing stories about it. Now as an adult seeing the fires race through my neighborhood helps me get a little bit more of an understanding of what my family saw

@2morechains 9 months ago

I was a freshman in high school during this fire and lived in east highland ranch. Seeing the first responders in action is what made me want to get into fire and I am 12+ years in. The old fire changed the the course of my life and I’m forever grateful to all of the first responders

@michellewimmer7957 1 year ago

WOW! This is absolutely deja vu. I lived thru the Old Fire and three subsequent mountain fires. Being evacuated for days not knowing if my home was still there (thankfully it was, but not 10 of my neighbors).
There is nothing worse than those Santa Ana's.
God Bless our Firefighters!

@chrishylton3080 3 months ago

My sister and her family lived at the top of Archibald, three streets down from where the road ends, during the Grand Prix fire. My mom and I snuck past the sheriff deputy parked across Archibald just below their street, so we could help my sister pack stuff in their truck and car. There were firefighters at the top of Archibald shooting off flares to back fire the area between the fire and the neighborhood. Even though the fire was still 1/2 a mile away you could feel the heat! And the roar it created was ominous. We left before my sister did, and on the way home, driving on the I-15 through Lytle Creek, the fire was completely across Lytle Creek, and the Grand Prix and Old fires merged. The sense of being insignificant was overwhelming!

@Tom_tako 2 years ago

I wish PBS would broadcast this video.

@camaroboi13 2 years ago

My parents lost their house in the Panorama fire, then we lost our house in the Old fire a few miles down the road from the first house. My son got evacuated from the line fire but looks like we broke the streak finally.

@chickensandgermansheps2662 2 years ago

Watching this as the line fire is spreading. Now im scared. Hoping our firefighters are safe😊

@mattgdontcare 2 years ago

I have mixed feelings about the statements about getting out of the firefighters way. I was in the Old Fire as a civilian, a Navy fire fighting trained civilian. I was on Golondrina between Eureka and Foothill at my grandpa’s house putting out spot fires that broke out at his and a bunch of the neighbors houses. Everyone had evacuated and there were no fire trucks in the neighborhood. The palm trees were burning and blowing fire balls everywhere into yards igniting bushes and any flammable things they touched. I was prepared to leave if I had to but I didn’t. I saw houses burning three blocks over, west of Sterling Ave and held the line. I can’t say for sure how many houses I saved by myself but I know that the areas I put out fires and friends houses that I rigged with sprinklers didn’t burn down. The sad thing is those neighborhoods have deteriorated seriously in 20 years and if there was another incident like the Old Fire the property loss would be astronomical compared to what it was. There’s really nobody left who lived through it. My grandpa passed away a couple years ago and we sold the house and the new owners are a shining example of people who don’t care for a property. I tried warning them and other new residents that they need to make sure those houses are kept clear of debris and crap everywhere but they don’t care.

@gontopee2400 2 years ago

We had just moved up to running springs a month before the fires broke out in 03. Both the old fire in 03 and the slide fire in 07 we had to evacuate and luckily our house survived. Can't say the same for our neighbors

@juneyshu 2 years ago

i just cant believe a 10 acre fire beside a main road can be allowed to grow this big.

@petersonfam 1 month ago (edited)

I miss my old Del Rosa neighborhood so much! I appreciate all the fire fighting efforts and this video.
The Santa Ana winds were so awful.
I have been looking for the news footage of my family for years! And finally saw it around 10:31 mark. I was 14 years old when I lost my house on El Camino Dr in San Bernardino. Eventually we moved a few towns over and have had to evacuate a few times but the organization and getting these fires contained and out is amazing! Luckily the el dorado fire only came up a few hundred feet away due to fire fighting efforts. Also luckily the line fire stayed a few miles away from us .

@themefree5135 2 years ago (edited)

I remember seeing the 2003 fire on my way up 38 that morning, we could tell it was a big deal, left us with an ominous feeling. I was about 20, clocked into work and not even an hour later everyone was sent home for the mandatory evacuation of big bear. Such a terrible day. After that, weeks later, I walked along a neighborhood that had burned to the ground in Bluejay, a friend was taking pictures for the newspaper, and i saw a charred metal toy fire engine and that was such a heavy moment, i believe if im remembering right, a woman had burned to death in her bathtub trying to survive, and just standing there on that grey late afternoon looking down at that toy was so heavy, ill never forget it.

@jokker73 2 years ago

Excellent video. The Grand Prix/Old Fire remains unforgettable.

@toddbefield1100 2 years ago (edited)

The current "line fire" brings me right back to the "old fire" of 2003. Thought for sure our cabin was gone in Cedarpines Park. Turns out the fire missed us by 100 yards. Have since sold that cabin as fire threat just too much. Prayers to all on the mountain this time around!

@larry7898 2 years ago

Fantastic video. As a Foothills resident everyone of us should watch it!

@firetrucksrule07 2 years ago

2003 fire fighters and civilians learned a lot from the southern California fire storms that hit many area's. Was such a scary, horrific and terrifying time. The fire storm wasnt just here in San Berdino area but many others fire storm's. Bless those fire fighters from back then but as well the ones fighting fires this month in September 2024