FONTANA, CA. (Pain In The Pass) >> A large brush fire has exploded in the north end of Fontana Wednesday afternoon.

The South Fire broke out at around 1:30pm Wednesday August 25 2021, off of Lytle Creek Road near Duncan Canyon Road in the city of Fontana, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department. San Bernardino County Fire Department with help from CAL FIRE and US Forest Service firefighters were on scene quickly. As of 3pm the fire has burned at least 200+ acres with no containment at this time going towards Lytle Creek. The Lytle Creek area has been placed under a mandatory evacuation.

From reports a excavator or a front loading tractor may have hit a rock and spark the fire. Check back for update below.

Interstate 15 is open in both direction but is slow.

4pm update 300 plus acres with multiple structures burned.

5pm update the fire is moving slower now the acres are about 350.

6pm update the fire is about 500 acres, It’s currently making a good push to the north towards a shooting range downhill.

7pm update the fire has finally starting to slow down alot, good progress being made in the area by firefighters.

9pm the fire is laying down still about 500 acres.

8am Thursday update crews worked through the night with the help of a night flying helicopter. The fire is 700 acres due to better mapping still at 0% contained, has destroyed 4 residential structures and 14 out buildings.

2:45pm Thursday the fire is making a run on the east side of Lytle Creek Road. It is putting up significant smoke and is in extremely steep terrain along the power lines. Water drops are difficult in this area.

9pm Thursday Update the fire 900 acres, 10% containment. More than 400 firefighters continued to work on perimeter control lines.

South Fire update at 9am Saturday the  current acreage are at 819, with better mapping and is 30% containment. Today, firefighters built and re-enforced containment lines around the fire perimeter. Pockets of unburned vegetation continue to burn on the fire’s interior, causing smoke to be visible.

4pm Sunday update The evacuation order has been downgraded to a warning for Lytle Creek residents. All those that were in evacuation order have now been lifted. Lytle Creek Road is now open to residents only.

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