A family in San Bernardino is counting their blessings and thanking firefighters after the “Sierra Fire,” which charred more than 400 acres, came dangerously close to their home and dozens of others.
The two-alarm brushfire in Fontana near Sierra and Jurupa avenues was first reported at around 2:30 p.m., with the wind-driven flames quickly spreading from 40 to 350 acres in just two hours.
Fontana resident Isaac Van Setten told KTLA’s Shelby Nelson that he saw the flames cresting the hillside near his family’s home and their neighbors the moment he got onto his street.
“The closer and closer I got, I was seeing more fire, and I was like this is pretty scary,” he said.
Another neighbor captured video of a line of firefighters directly on the other side of his retaining wall where crews were battling the blaze.
“It got as close to these houses as it possibly could have,” Van Setten said.
Worried about what was going to happen, Van Setten called his parents, Debby and Bob, who were not at their home at the time.
“He was a little nervous,” Debby explained. “He said, ‘It’s bad, mom.’ He called and said it’s really bad.”
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A wildfire seen dangerously close to homes in Fontana on June 30, 2024. (Isaac Van Setten) -
Firefighters seen directly behind a Fontana resident’s house while battling a wildfire on June 30, 2024. (viewer photo) -
Flames from the “Sierra Fire” in Fontana seen threatening several homes on June 30, 2024. (Inland News) -
Flames from the “Sierra Fire” in Fontana seen threatening several homes on June 30, 2024. (Inland News) -
Flames from the “Sierra Fire” in Fontana seen threatening several homes on June 30, 2024. (Inland News) -
Firefighters battling the “Sierra Fire” in Fontana on June 30, 2024. (viewer photo) -
Crews with the San Bernardino County Fire Department seen on June 30, 2024, in response to the “Sierra Fire.” (Inland News)
The charred hillside behind the homes now serves as a reminder of just how quickly fires can start and spread, but it’s not the first time this has happened to these Fontana residents.
“It’s pretty dry over here and we get a fire just about every year now,” Van Setten said. “At least, that’s what it seems like.”
In Moreno Valley, the “Round Fire” scorched nearly 350 acres before it was fully contained over the weekend.
Now, much of the Inland Empire, including Fontana, Moreno Valley and Corona are under excessive heat warnings for an extended period of time, with some cities expected to move into the triple digits in the coming days.
“We do have that grass crop that has dried out and like we’ve seen throughout San Bernardino County, in the high desert, in the valleys, everything is looking to burn,” Eric Sherwin with the San Bernardino County Fire Department explained.
One small ignition source can quickly lead to a disaster and now with the Fourth of July holiday approaching, officials are urging people not to set off illegal fireworks.
“A fire, whether it’s caused accidentally or not, still has the same potential to threaten residences,” Sherwin added.
Fortunately, the Sierra Fire, which is now at 95% containment did not damage any of the nearby homes.