'A HOT MESS': 75-Acre Blaze Comes Close to Businesses at I-15, Lytle Creek

Update 5:45 p.m. The brush fire that came close to businesses at Interstate 15 and Sierra Avenue near Lytle Creek Wash was considered about 20 percent contained as of 5 p.m., a Cal Fire spokesman said.

The fire was reported about 1:20 p.m., when it started southwest of the 15 and Sierra, Bill Peters of Cal Fire-San Bernardino County said.

"The point of origin appears to be on property by Duncan Road, it spread adjacent to the freeway, and ran itself into the riverbed" at Lytle Creek, Peters said.

The blaze scorched about 75 acres, and there were about 280 firefighters, three tanker planes and two helicopters and more than 20 engines assigned at the height of the fire, Peters said.

"We expect to be 100 percent contained by 6 o'clock tomorrow night," Peters said. Full control of the fire's burned area, meaning it will be considered completely out, is expected by 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Four engines and at least one ground crew will be assigned to keep an eye on the burned area ovenright Monday into Tuesday, Peters said.

The fire damaged an outbuilding on property southwest of the gas station-fast food complex at Sierra and the 15, and it melted signs at the Jack in the Box in the complex, Peters said. The cause of the fire was being investigated.

Update 4:35 p.m. A fast-moving brush fire swept by warm breezes scorched part of the Lytle Creek Wash and swept through the gas station and fast-food complex at Interstate 15 and Sierra Avenue on Monday, forcing temporary closure of the 15 in both directions.

The fire burned an estimated 75 acres, a Forest Service spokesman said, and flames came close enough to the businesses that it melted the drive-thru sign where people order at the Jack in the Box.

People at the Jack in the Box were evacuated, and people at the Del Taco-Shell an AM/PM and a McDonald's-Chevron were asked to shelter in place when the fire broke out before 2 p.m., John Miller of the San Bernardino National Forest said.

Cal Fire and county fire crews responded along with Forest Service personnel. There were an estimated 285 firefighters assigned as of 4 p.m., Miller said.

Posted 2:15 p.m. A fire broke out Monday afternoon near Interstate 15 and Lytle Creek in the north Fontana area, authorities said.

The blaze prompted closure of the 15 at 1:49 p.m. due to what the California Highway Patrol described as a large brush fire.

Cal Fire and the Forest Service engine crews responded along with county crews, a San Bernardino County fire dispatcher said in a phone interview.

Structures were threatened, a county fire rep tweeted before 2 p.m.