Update: Prescribed fire in San Bernardino County burns 19 acres

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Updated: 9:51 a.m. April 22

Started: 7 hours ago, 2 a.m. April 22

Initial location: 2 miles south of Boulder Bay / Big Bear, San Bernardino County, Calif.

Fire unit: San Bernardino National Forest

Fire type: Prescribed

Fire name: South Big Bear Prescribed Fire

The pile burning project, known as South Big Bear Prescribed Fire, was initiated today at 2 a.m. in 2 miles south of Boulder Bay / Big Bear in San Bernardino County, California.

After being active for seven hours, the prescribed fire has burned 19 acres.

Read more on the project below and follow later updates for further information.

Fuels involved in this prescribed burn, according to InciWeb: "About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology — and rooted in communities — the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live."

More reports from InciWeb:

• Project overview:

"South Big Bear Prescribed Burn to BeginFavorable weather conditions in place for hazardous fuels reduction workBig Bear, CA 04-20-25 The San Bernardino National Forest plans to begin prescribed fire operations between April 22 and 24 in the Bluff Lake area, south of the Big Bear Valley along forest road 2N10. Firefighters will monitor the prescribed burn during ignition and the following days until it is entirely out. We use prescribed fires to reduce overgrown vegetation and protect local communities, infrastructure, and natural resources from wildfires. Please drive carefully and stay alert, as firefighters may be along the roadsides in the area, ensuring your safety and theirs. Residents may experience smoke during the prescribed burns. For more detailed information about air quality, go to AirNow online or download the app. When driving, slow down and turn on your headlights when you encounter smoke on the road. We will evaluate weather conditions in the hours before a burn begins. If conditions warrant, scheduled prescribed fire activities may be canceled. Stay informed about the scheduled prescribed fires through the forest website, social media channels, and InciWeb, the interagency incident information system. We will notify county emergency management officials when burning begins."

• Significant events:

"Ignitions have completed for the day. Firefighters were successful with a total of 19 acres burned. Smoke and flames may be visible from points across the valley. Resources will remain on scene overnight patrolling. Crews will be continuing ignitions tomorrow working to reach their goal."

Please note that these reports are automatically published and unreviewed quotes from InciWeb. Therefore they might be incomplete, hard to read or include misspelled words.

Prescribed fire (prescribed burn) is a wildfire prevention method that involves burning an area of land in a controlled manner to minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfires.

Source: InciWeb

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This story was originally published April 22, 2026 at 1:32 PM.