Power Outage in San Bernardino, CA

Heavy thunderstorms associated with remnant moisture from post-tropical cyclone Kay produced torrential rain over the Apple and El Dorado burn scars on the afternoon of September 12. Multiple debris flows occurred following torrential one-hour rainfall rates exceeding debris flow guidance from the USGS and CAGS. Two of the debris flows traveled several miles including the Banning Canyon wash showing debris logs and ash water. The most impactful debris flow occurred in Forest Falls and Oak Glen, where the flow traveled at least 3 miles down Oakland Road with 4 foot boulders, logs over-topping the road with several feet of mud, with several power poles destroyed. Another highly impactful debris flow formed in Forest Falls on Prospect Road, where large boulders, black water and logs took out trees and damaged several homes. Another debris flow occurred 0.5 mile away on Valley of the Falls Road, producing a 12-foot wall of dirt and rocks. An additional debris flow occurred on State Highway Route 38 just before Angeles Oaks. These flows are the most significant that have occurred since the fires in 2020. An estimated 30 homes were damaged and three vehicles were moved and damaged.||The following are recorded rain amounts from the same region:|Raywood Flats, 6 NNW Forest Falls: 2.44 inch in 1 hour and 2.75 inch for the day, resulting in the full closure of Highway 38.||Mesonet Station Yucc1 Little San Gorgonio Peak Yucaipa Ridge, 2 SE Forest Falls: 1.06 inch in 60 minutes.||Mesonet Station FFPC1, 1.5 W Forest Falls: 1.93 inch.

A power pole was blown partway over, damaging two transformers.

Multiple vehicles were stuck on Highway 62 between Godwin Road and Sand-Dale Road. Mud and large rocks were in the road, and two power poles were also knocked down.

Thunderstorm winds damaged hangars and blew planes out at the Daggett Airport, then blew down numerous power poles and trees in Barstow, knocking out power to thousands of customers.

A power pole and two power lines were blown down.

Lightning struck a power pole along Interstate 40 1/2 mile east of Hector Road.

Lightning struck and set fire to a power pole. Heavy rain put out the fire.

Thunderstorm winds blew down a power pole along Utah Trail.

Several power poles down across streets in Highland, with lines down across yards, likely due to a lightning strike. Lightning struck a power pole, pole and lines down on roadway southeast of Apple Valley.

Multiple power lines and transformers damaged by lightning strikes.

Lightning set fire to a power pole at the intersection of Kelbaker Road and Kelso Cima Road.

Rain caused power poles to catch fire in Yucca Valley and Joshua Tree, with 1200 customers losing power.

Lightning set fire to five trees and one power pole in Joshua Tree and Twentynine Palms.

Lightning knocked out power to over 4000 customers and set fire to a palm tree between Landers and Twentynine Palms.

Lightning knocked out power to 336 customers near Indian Trail and La Buena Tierra Ave.

Lightning knocked out power to 264 customers near Winter Road and Giant Rock Road.

A spotter in Lucerne Valley reported a lightning strike onto power lines causing a power outage across a section of the Lucerne Valley area to the southeast of town. A transformer was burned out and tripped a number of circuit breakers on the nearby power grid causing the outage for over an hour in some locations.

A semi truck was blown over on I-40, and several power poles and lines were also blown down and blocked I-40 in both directions. Several palm trees were blown down, and there was minor roof damage to a business.

Lightning struck and damaged Southern California Edison equipment, knocking out power to 15 customers.

CHP reported a power line down in the dirt and National Trails Highway starting to flood just south of Helendale at Bryman Road. Some vehicles are stopped and others moving slowly. Six vehicles are stuck due to the flood waters.

CHP reported a power line down in the dirt and National Trails Highway starting to flood just south of Helendale at Bryman Road. Some vehicles are stopped and others moving slowly. Six vehicles are stuck due to the flood waters.

The KDAG ASOS reported a gust to 60 mph. Sixteen power poles were blown down along Newberry Springs Road, forcing the road to be closed. Trees were blown down and a garage door was damaged in Newberry Springs.

The KDAG ASOS reported a gust to 60 mph. Sixteen power poles were blown down along Newberry Springs Road, forcing the road to be closed. Trees were blown down and a garage door was damaged in Newberry Springs.

Thunderstorm winds blew down at least 14 power poles in Twentynine Palms, knocking out power to 2,000 customers.

Water and mud were rushing down the street at Interstate 40 and Nebo Street. Four power poles were knocked down by flash flooding near National Trails Highway and Minneola Road.

Thunderstorm winds blew down four power poles, knocking out power to all of Fort Irwin.

Thunderstorm winds downed several trees and power poles and damaged roofs and windows on a few homes in Trona.

A dust devil picked up a tent, throwing it into a power line and shorting out a transformer, knocking out power to 1700 customers. The partially melted tent then fell onto a car, damaging it.

Lightning struck a power line at Highway 62 and Dorth Place.

Lightning struck and set afire a power pole.

Lightning struck a total of seven power poles, knocking out power to 2700 customers.

Five power poles were blown down, knocking out electricity to about 900 homes.

Lightning struck a power pole, knocking power out for eight hours in the neighborhood.

Lightning knocked down numerous power poles on Two Mile Road at Sunrise Road.

Winds from a possible microburst or gustnado damaged four horse shelter roofs near the intersection of Cottonwood Avenue and Joshua Street in Hesperia. One 10 foot by 10 foot metal and wood roof was completely removed from the shelter. Thunderstorm winds also knocked over power lines in Hesperia and Victorville earlier in the day.

Thunderstorm winds blew down three power poles and broke off several large tree limbs.

Flash flooding at the Calico Ghost Town washed out most of the campground, closing it for a week. Roads were covered in mud and debris from 1924 PST to 0330 PST, and the park lost power.

Lightning downed several power lines in the Yermo area, causing some road closures.

Law enforcement reported Amboy Rd. was closed from Twentynine Palms to Sheep Hole Pass. Power lines were also down along with debris in the roadway.

Strong thunderstorm winds knocked down several power lines near City Hall and the local library and both buildings had to be evacuated. One of the power lines also fell onto a womans car trapping her for over half an hour. The woman was uninjured, but the car received minor damage.

Lytle Creek Road was made impassible due to debris and flash flooding. 17 people had to be airlifted from the Bonita Falls area after they were cut off by flooding in Lytle Creek. The creek, which normally runs about 5 feet wide, was running well over 200 feet wide by the end of the rains. Flooding brought down power lines, flooded homes, and caused landslides.

A strong thunderstorm containing small hail and frequent lightning moved northeast from near Norco to Devore before weakening. In Fontana, one lightning strike split a 100-foot tree in half, causing it to fall onto a home. The force of the lightning shattered the homes windows and injured a 24-year-old man. Homes nearby also sustained broken windows. In addition to windows and trees, lightning brought down power lines as well.

High surf, in excess of 8 feet broke over the Ocean Beach pier. Wind gusts in excess of 45 mph also broke power poles and downed trees along the San Diego County Coast, the Inland Empire, and the Coachella Valley. A lightning strike near a soccer game caused a minor injury to an 18 year old male spectator.

Named the Old Fire, this fire was started by an arsonist on October 25. It consumed 91,200 acres before it was fully contained on November 5, 2003. During the month of October, it destroyed 850 houses, 10 commercial buildings, 1460 power poles, 220 electrical transformers, several miles of highway and utility infrastructure. It also damaged another 35 houses. The entire San Bernardino Mountain range was evacuated. An estimated 80,000 people were evacuated during the first day, and this caused a 28 mile long traffic jam on Highway 18. Eventually the foothill communities of Silverwood Lake, South Hesperia, Oak Hills, Summit Valley, Telephone Canyon, and Las Flores were also evacuated. Smoke, ash, and/or flames from the fire severely impacted and/or halted ground, air, and rail transportation into and out of Southwest California several times. Atmospheric conditions preceding it's start and during the first four days were: high temperatures 90 to 100 degrees, relative humidity ranging from 3 percent during the day to 20 percent at night, and predominate north to northeast winds. The condition and loading of the fuels also caused the fire to grow upwind and up slope against 25 to 50 mph winds. On the first day of the fire, it destroyed 400 houses and 10 commercial buildings. By the second day it had merged with the east flank of the Grand Prix Fire. By the third day when the northeast winds were no longer dominate, it burned over the ridge line, through the Cajon Pass, and down the high desert steppe towards Hesperia. On the fourth day, Wednesday Oct. 29th, an increase in southwest flow caused the southeast flank of the fire to grow rapidly towards Big Bear Lake. Wind gusts over 40 mph were measured across the ridges. Moisture increased rapidly over the next several days and light rain fell along the coastal slopes and ridge tops. As the month of October closed, the fire was still active and hooking around the northwest and northeast side of the San Bernardino Mountain range, threatening to burn up the north slope and into the resort communities.

Named the Bridge fire, it burned 1352 acres before being fully contained. It forced the evacuation of the towns of Fredalba, Smiley Park, Nob Hill, Enchanted Forest, and part of Running Springs, affecting more than 1000 residents. The main highways, 330 and 18, were closed for several days. Property damage was contained to guardrails, power lines, and traffic signs along the highway corridors, in addition to one out building. Cost of fighting the fire were in excess of $2.3 million dollars.

Flash flooding was observed in Yucca Valley and Phelan. Lightning from the same thunderstorms also struck two power poles and started small brush fires in Phelan.

A brush fire consumed 7 acres in the area adjacent to the Oak Ridge Estates. No homes or structures were lost and no one was injured. Lightning caused phone and power outages in the Big Bear Lake area earlier this day, and may have been the cause of this fire.

Named the Mormon Rocks Fire, it burned 10 acres and caused Highway 138 to be closed for about one hour. Property damage was confined to a power line.

A brush fire consumed 48 acres, one power pole, and threatened one structure.

Power poles blown down near Interstate 15.

Black bears, rummaging through an unoccupied cabin, knocked over a halogen lamp which started a fire. The fire consumed the cabin and several power lines, and killed one of the bears.

Named the Louisiana fire, it began from a burning car in the Cajon Pass near Pitman Canyon. Fanned by 20 mph winds, it grew to more than 200 acres in two hours and destroyed three residences and three outbuildings. Before the first day was over, 1300 acres had burned. Eventually 6532 acres would be burned, along with numerous infrastructure supporting utilities and highway transportation before it was fully contained three days later. Smoke, flames, and heat from the fire halted ground and air transportation across the San Bernardino Mountains and between the High Desert and the Inland Empire of San Bernardino County for two days. Between 50 to 70 trains and 13,000 trucks move through the Cajon Pass on a daily basis. This blockage affected shipping in and out of Long Beach Harbor, a major West Coast shipping port. In addition to burning 57 power poles, heat from the fire forced the shutting down of all power transmission lines and a natural gas line across the mountains. These outages in turn affected about 500,000 customers in communities far removed from the incident site. Initially 40 homes were evacuated the first day in the Swarthout Canyon area. A flare up on the second day forced an evacuation of 100 homes in the Mormon Rocks area. Smoke blown over the Victor Valley caused air quality to dip below healthful levels at times. In addition to the property damage, an additional $3 million was spent fighting the fire.

The fire began from a malfunction of a power line running through a steep canyon. About 150 firefighters, responding from all the surrounding communities, and assisted by air tankers and helicopters, were able to contain the blaze to 10 acres. Eight power lines were scorched, but power was not disrupted.

Thirteen power poles were blown down in Victorville, trees and fences were blown down in residential areas, and power lines were blown down in Hesperia and Apple Valley.

Three power poles were blown down in Adelanto. Blowing sand and dust with visibility 10 feet or less was observed in the Apple Valley. A spotter reported wind gusts around 35 mph.

The season's first Santa Ana winds fanned several brush fires, and started several others by banging power lines together. Smoke and the proximity of flames prompting the evacuation of students at a college in Yucaipa. The winds also blew dust and debris across freeways between Fontana and Rialto during the morning commute, stopping traffic at times.

A spark from a passing train started a brush fire that grew to 685 acres. The blaze briefly threatened the community of Lytle Creek, power transmission lines, and a ranch where animals are trained for movies. No injuries occurred, nor were any structures burned.

Lightning strikes in Ontario ignited a palm tree and a utility pole, and also knocked down power lines in Fontana.

Santa Ana winds blew over four semi-tractor trailer rigs on Interstates 10, 15, 215 and State Highway 60 between Devore and Ontario, causing a ten hour traffic delay between the AppleValley and the Inland Empire. Elsewhere around the Inland Empire, blowing sand and dust drifted across roads and reduced visibilities to near zero, further disrupting travel. In Rialto, several roofs had shingles ripped off and one plate glass window was blown in. Trees and power lines and poles were also blown down, causing power outages to 10,000 customers. Sparks from power lines banging together started a house fire with the winds blowing embers onto adjacent fields and starting a wild fire.