The Bridge Fire began on Sunday, September 8th, 2024, affecting the unincorporated communities of Wrightwood and Mt. Baldy in San Bernardino County. In response to the fire, the San Bernardino County Flood Control District formed a Safety Assessment Team (SAT) to identify areas potentially at risk for flooding and debris hazards due to the Bridge Fire.
The SAT pinpointed several areas of concern within the community of Wrightwood, including Swarthout Creek, Flume Creek, Heath Creek, and Sheep Creek. To mitigate these risks, the Flood Control District Operations team installed K-rail barriers along Swarthout Creek and is pre-staging additional K-rail barriers for further protection during severe storm events.
In addition to the K-rail barriers, the District is increasing the capacity of Flood Control Channels as a precaution against additional storm runoff and post-fire debris. They are also constructing earthen berms to contain potential excessive debris flows within the Flood Control channels. Furthermore, the District Operations Team is performing preventative maintenance by removing trees and other potential obstacles that could impede debris flow within the channels.
The Operations Team plans to continue their work throughout the winter months, focusing on maintenance and addressing any issues that may arise due to the post-Bridge Fire debris flows.
For more information on flood preparedness, please visit San Bernardino County Storm & Flood Information – Storm & Flood Information
For more information on how to prepare for the upcoming winter months, please visit prepare.sbcounty.gov
