Curious about the damage caused to Oak Glen from the El Dorado Fire, I decided to drive up there this morning. Before heading out, I made sure roads were open and visitors allowed. Side note to those not living in Southern California… this fire was started by humans setting off a smoke bomb in dry brush to reveal the gender of their new baby. Such stupidity boggles the mind. I’ve pasted some information about the fire down below the gallery.
The below pictures were taken as I first approached the winding roads leading up the mountain to Oak Glen. I’ll have additional posts over the next few days. It’s truly incredible how close the fire got to burning through the entire area. Three cheers to all the firefighters. ~SueBee
Original source is linked here. “The El Dorado Fire began on September 5th in El Dorado Park near Yucaipa, CA. Temperatures recorded the day the fire started were 15 to 20 degrees above normal, and in many cases broke new record high temperatures. Over a 23-day period, the fire burned 22,680 acres in the Oak Glen / Yucaipa Ridge area and within the San Gorgonio Wilderness Area of the San Bernardino National Forest. The fire forced the evacuations of Oak Glen, north Yucaipa, Mountain Home Village, Forest Falls, and Angelus Oaks communities. The fire required 60 miles of fireline and ranged from a minimum elevation of 3030’ to a maximum of 10,640’. There were 4 residences damaged, 5 residences destroyed along with 15 other structures destroyed.
At the peak, there were 1,351 personnel assigned to the fire including 17 hand crews, 177 engines, 20 water tenders, 17 dozers, and 10 helicopters. Numerous Fixed Wing Tankers including a DC-10 assisted with aerial fire-retardant drops. Three Canadian Fire Bosses and a Single Engine Air Tanker (SEAT) Water Scooper were also used for the first time in Southern California and were based out of Big Bear Airport & Lake.
This fire resulted in one firefighter fatality, Charlie Morton, a 14-year veteran firefighter with the San Bernardino National Forest, as well as thirteen injuries. The memorial service for fallen USDA Forest Service firefighter Charles Edward Morton was held on Friday, September 25, 2020, at 11 a.m. in San Bernardino, CA. “
SueBee and Kat 
😦 😦 😦 Poor California, it’s been such an awful year for fires.
It’s been awful.
A lot of damage.
Yes, very sad.