Pinnacles Fire 2,500 Acres; Air Attack Imminent

Breaking News

By RIMOFTHEWORLD.net
Wednesday, September 20, 2006

As of 7:00 AM, there was little change in the fire. It's size remains at roughly 2,500 acres. "The fire has laid down real well," said one official Tuesday evening, "with no open running flame" The only problem area is the northeast corner near Apple Valley. Helicopter operations are to resume shortly, with fixed wing operations to resume after 8 AM.

Tuesday afternoon, the fire reached a trigger point along Deep Creek, causing officials to issue voluntary evacuations for the Highlands and Mariannas areas of Apple Valley, east of the Lake Silverwood spillway.

The Pinnacles Fire started just south of the shooting area along Highway 173 near Lake Arrowhead. Firefighters had a shakey containment on the fire shortly after 10 AM Tuesday, but the fire escaped containment just before 11 AM and has spread rapidly. It jumped and spotted to the north in gusty southerly winds Tuesday afternoon, burning north and northwestward toward Apple Valley.

A post smolders along Highway 173 just south of the Arrowhead Fish and Game Conservation Club Shooting Range near the point of origin of the fire. (Photo by Scott Straley.)

There is no immediate threat to the Lake Arrowhead area. No structures are threatened. The only roadway closed is Highway 173 between Grass Valley road and Arrowhead Lakes Road in Apple Valley.