Oro Grande’s National Fire nearly contained, highway and schools reopen
After nearly two days of battling the wind-driven National Fire in Oro Grande, fire officials on Tuesday night said the blaze is nearly contained.
San Bernardino County officials reported that the vegetation fire that began Sunday night in the 19400 block of National Trails Highway in Oro Grande, was at 52 acres and 85% contained.
The fire was near the Mojave River and across from the CalPortland Oro Grande Cement Plant, north of Victorville.
Two vacant mobile homes and a previously burned structure were damaged by the fire, county firefighters stated.
The fire did not expand on Tuesday and fire crews planned to remain on scene overnight, fire officials stated.
Highway, schools reopened
Authorities on Tuesday night announced they lifted all evacuation orders and reopened National Trails Highway to through traffic.
Due to smoke, area schools were closed on Monday, including Oro Grande Elementary, Riverside Prep Middle and High schools, fire officials stated.
Oro Grande School District officials announced that after consulting with fire and air quality officials, all of its campuses will reopen with normal schedules on Wednesday, May 15.
“We know these last couple days have been difficult with the last-minute schedule changes, but we appreciate everyone's understanding and cooperation as firefighters worked tirelessly to contain the fire and protect homes and structures in the Oro Grande community,” school officials stated.
Several residents who live north of the fire in Oro Grand told the Daily Press authorities told them their detour to Victorville or Interstate 15 included traveling to Helendale, then west on Shadow Mountain Road to Route 395.
One resident said they canceled doctor appointments and tried to order groceries, "but no one ever delivered here to begin with, and with the road closed it isn’t even a possibility."
Blaze reported
The fire burned in dense, dead and downed vegetation in swamp-like conditions of the river bottom, authorities reported.
Firefighters responded to the National Fire at 6:21 p.m. Sunday according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department. The fire area is located between the Mojave River and the highway, also known as Old Route 66.
On Monday afternoon, the fire had reached nearly 42 acres, with 5% containment, according to the state-run Fire Integrated Real-Time Intelligence System Program.
County fire reported that at the height of the fire, about 150 personnel were assigned to the incident. On Monday morning, ground and air assets continued to extend and improve containment lines, effect perimeter control and perform mop-up operations.
Evacuations were for residents on the west side of National Trails Highway between Mill Street and Polish Lane adjacent to the incident, which affected nearly 50 residents, none of whom have requested assistance with shelter, fire officials stated.
Assisting agencies include Cal Fire, Apple Valley Fire, Victorville Fire, and the Bureau of Land Management California Desert District.
Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X at @DP_ReneDeLaCruz
This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Oro Grande’s National Fire nearly contained, highway and schools reopen
