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[/profileleft]It’s the time of year when conditions in California are right for wildfires to burn. Unfortunately, that’s what’s happening in San Bernardino as what is being called the Blue Cut fire continues to rage out of control. At this point, the fire is burning across an estimated 30,000 acres and it appears to be growing. 82,000 people living in 35,000 homes in the area have already been evacuated and more evacuation orders could be on the way as buildings are threatened. The wildfire lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys would like to pass along as much information as possible regarding this situation in hopes that everyone heeds warnings and takes proper steps towards remaining safe and out of the reach of these flames.
The Specifics of the Blue Cut Fire
The Blue Cut fire is named after the Blue Cut hiking trail that sits nearby. The fire began on Tuesday morning in the Cajon Pass near Kenwood Avenue, just west of Interstate 15. The cause of the fire is currently unknown. Firefighters have stated that this is the most powerful fire they have seen in some time and it is zero percent contained as of Wednesday morning. At 30,000 acres in size, the fire has burned 47 square miles of land. According to InciWeb, a governmental informational Web site, the following areas have already been evacuated:
- The entire community of Wrightwood
- Wrightwood from San Bernardino to Jackson Lake
- West of I-15, and West of Hwy 395 and west of Summit Valley
- South of Bear Valley Rd. and East of Caughlin Road.
- East of Sheep Creek, south of Phelan Rd. and west of Green Road, including the Desert Front Rd. area.
- Lone Pine Canyon
- Swarthout Canyon
- West Cajon Valley
- Lytle Creek Canyon
Unfortunately, weather conditions are expected to remain such that a “Red Flag” warning is in place until 9:00 p.m. on Thursday. That means that weather conditions are amenable to the spread of wildfires.
Some Suggestions for Dealing with a Wildfire
If you have already been affected by the Blue Cut fire or you may be soon, you obviously need to consider your safety and that of your loved ones first and foremost. The wildfire lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys would like to suggest the following:
- If you’ve been ordered to evacuate, you need to heed the warnings of fire officials.
- Move any animals to a safe location if possible.
- Make sure you have any insurance documents and contact information for your insurance company.
- After the fire has passed through your area, check with officials before returning home if you have not already received that clearance. Conditions can remain dangerous in the immediate aftermath of a wildfire.
- File your insurance claim as soon as possible if your property is affected by the Blue Cut fire.
- Follow up on that claim to make sure it’s been received and recorded.
Contact Wildfire Lawyers for Help
One of the pieces of information that will substantially affect how the aftermath of the Blue Cut fire will play out will be the cause of the fire. If it was set by someone purposely or in a negligent manner, that could lead to the filing of wildfire lawsuits against that party or parties. We hope that anyone affected by the Blue Cut fire, including residents, firefighters and anyone else remains as safe as possible and that this wildfire is contained quickly. If you need legal questions answered in the aftermath of this terrible situation, contact the wildfire lawyers at Gomez Trial Attorneys as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation.
