Small brush fire closes Highway 18

Submitted by admin on Thu, 08/02/2012 - 20:55

By KRIS REILLY
Editor

A small brush fire closed Highway 18 between Lucerne Valley and Big Bear on Thursday evening.

At 5:50 p.m., firefighters from San Bernardino County Fire, Cal Fire, the U.S. Forest Service and Baldwin Lake Fire responded to reports of a brush fire about a mile southeast of the Mitsubishi Cement Corporation Cushenbury Plant.

San Bernardino County Fire Capt. Scott Micheals said the fire burned about a quarter acre of vegetation, causing no injuries or property damage. Micheals said Highway 18 was closed because the fire was close to the roadway.

The road was closed in both directions for approximately 20-30 minutes, Michaels said.

According to the California Highway Patrol website, the northbound lane (coming down the mountain) was reopened by 7:05 p.m., and traffic from both directions was being alternated through the northbound lane by 7:10 p.m.

The fire was extinguished shortly after 7 p.m., but crews remained on the scene for cleanup.