A fire has started near Crestline (west of Lake Arrowhead, west of Big Bear). It’s several miles south of the PCT, so far as I can tell, and growing to the south, so it’s probably not a direct threat to the PCT, but: the San Bernardino National Forest is CLOSED TO ALL VISITORS at this time. I assume that includes PCT hikers, too!
Please refer to the IncidentControl website, below, for more details as this situation develops. My advice is not to rely on the San Bernardino National Forest website for current information, such as forest closures; it doesn’t seem to be updated sufficiently quickly for the needs of public safety.
http://www.incidentcontrol.com/old/index.html
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/
If you need to talk to someone (e.g., if you are tracking a SOBO PCT thruhiker in the area), I reached someone at the Arrowhead Ranger Station (+1-909-382-2782). In contrast, the forest supervisor’s office phone number (shown on the first page of the Forest’s website) led to an unhelpful automatic call router.
http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/sanbernardino/contactus/index.html
On the Grand Prix fire side of Cajon Pass, the Angeles
National Forest is evacuating Mount Baldy village and will close more roads in the fire area, but still (as of this writing) hasn’t closed the entire forest. I’ll bet they’re considering it, though. For up-to-date information, try the Mt. Baldy Schoolhouse Visitor Center, +1-909-982-2829.
Craig “Computer” Rogers