Wildfire destroys homes in San Bernardino; one person detained, later released

A fast-moving wildfire in San Bernardino destroyed several homes Monday afternoon as temperatures soared into the triple digits in Southern California’s Inland Empire.

Video captured by RMG News showed flames engulfing homes and residents fleeing the area. Sky5 reporter Gil Leyvas counted at least five homes that had been consumed by the flames.

The blaze, dubbed the Edgehill Fire, forced evacuations for all residents living on the south side of Ridge Line Drive, the San Bernardino County Fire Department said. It broke out at 2:40 p.m., fire department spokesperson Eric Sherwin said.

According to the San Bernardino Police Department, one person was detained in connection to the fire but has since been released.

When firefighters arrived, the blaze had only covered about one acre in space. Structures were “immediately threatened.”

At 6:48 p.m., the fire department said that forward progress on the fire had been stopped. It was at 25% containment as of that update. At 8:49 p.m., police said the fire was “very much under control.”

More than 200 firefighters were assigned to the blaze on Monday afternoon, Sherwin said.

“Little Mountain is a community that is not unaccustomed to fire,” Sherwin said. “The residents here are aware of fire and the threat that exists in this community. As engines were pulling up, people were already evacuating out of this area.”

One resident, Chris Herman, told KTLA’s Shelby Nelson the situation developed rapidly after neighbors alerted him to the nearby flames. When the blaze began to threaten another neighbor’s home, the neighborhood sprang into action.

“The whole community came and started getting buckets and pouring the water up there,” Herman said. “We didn’t want it to spread down here.”

Those living on the north side and north of Edgehill Rd. west to and including Beverly Drive and east to Circle Road, were also told to evacuate. Evacuees were initially urged to go to Marshall Elementary, but were later told to go to Cajon High School at 1200 Hill Drive.

Several homes were burned down to their foundations, Sky5 video showed.

One family of four, the Hernandez’s, lost their home and three dogs to the fire, according to an online fundraiser.

There were no immediate reports of injuries to humans. The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Temperatures soared to 107 degrees in San Bernardino Monday afternoon.

This is a developing story. Stay with KTLA 5 News for updates.