Troubles on I-15 near Hesperia

[Mark Sedenquist]

A wildfire erupted this afternoon (Friday) on the I-15 in the Hesperia area. More than 20 vehicles have burned on the freeway.

Dramatic photos here -- LA Times site.

More information from fire command here -- now called the "North Fire"

Travel on this this heavily-traveled route will be restricted for a bit.

[edit: 07-18: Lanes were reopened on the highway this morning]

Mark

[DonnaR57]

In San Diego, we sat and watched this on the television. My husband shook his head, what a time for I-15 to have to close, on a Friday afternoon when Southern Californians are racing to get up to Las Vegas for the weekend! We figured there were only two or three other ways to get up to Las Vegas -- two of them still used I-15. (One was to take I-5 up to CA-99 in Bakersfield, then head east on CA-58 through Kramer Junction into Barstow, where you catch I-15 north. Another would be to take CA-14 northeast either all the way to Mohave and then turn east on 58 as above. The third way would be to take I-10 out to Blythe and catch US-95 north. Anyway you cut it, though, it was going to add miles and miles.)


Donna

[glc]

Think outside the box, Donna - there are other alternates that are considerably shorter but don't involve freeways. Take the 10 to 62 to 29 Palms, then Amboy Road to old 66, then Kelbaker Road into the Mojave Preserve - and head for either Baker or Cima to pick up the 15. You could also take 62 to Yucca Valley and then 247 to Barstow. Another option to Barstow would be up through Big Bear, then 18 to 247.

Coming out of LA, the 5 to 14 is a good option, but then take 138/18 (Pearblossom) to the 15.

[DonnaR57]

You didn't want to be on Amboy Road or Kelbaker Road today: flash flood warning. That's why I didn't mention those.

The freeway opened just after midnight, anyway, but the backlash probably lasted all day today!


Donna

[Lifemagician]

This is the news to which I awoke on Sat morning. Seeing things on TV, I wondered if the bridge fire/collapse is in the same area where the fire jumped I-15 and burned all those cars.

Lifey