Lake Fire Grows Rapidly Amid Warm, Dry California Weather

By Heather Janssen, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

June 22,2015; 9:14PM,EDT

 

 

See larger image below.

Firefighters are working to contain the 17,350-acre wildfire burning in the San Bernardino National Forest, south of Big Bear Lake in California, and warm and dry weather are not expected to help efforts in the coming days.
Referred to as the Lake Fire, the wildfire is currently 21 percent contained, and it has been burning since last Wednesday.
According to the latest update from InciWeb, "The fire is being spread by heavy fuels and steep slopes; the fire spreads mainly when wind combines with steep terrain and burning material."
Burning logs rolling downhill into dense, dry vegetation is also contributing to the fire's growth. InciWeb added that most of the area has not burned in 100 years.
Warm, dry conditions along with low relative humidity are in the forecast for the next several days across the area in California where the wildfire is burning. Highs are forecast to climb into the 80s each day this week.
Smoke from Lake Fire seen from San Jacinto Peak on Friday, June 20. (Flicker Photo/Mitch Barrie)
"The relative humidity values usually peak in the early morning hours then drop off in the afternoon," AccuWeather Meteorologist Becky Elliott said.
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These conditions are not favorable for firefighters as the dry conditions make it easier for the fire to spread as fuel will remain very dry.
The area will not receive rain anytime soon, adding to the difficulty of containing the Lake Fire.
Winds are forecast to remain weak between 5 and 10 mph, with an occasional wind gust of 15 mph over the next several days. However, fires of this size and in difficult terrain can create their own wind, making it more difficult to battle the blaze.
Evacuations remain in effect for all areas east of Angelus Oaks, according to InciWeb. Highway 38, between Angelus Oaks and Lake Williams, and all hiking trails remain closed.