Wildfires along the Cajon Pass north of the Los Angeles metro area are an unfortunate but fairly regular occurrence during summer, and the fires often close the Interstate 15 / Route 66 corridor for a few hours.
Friday’s fire was different. The 3,200-acre blaze jumped the freeway and ignited about 20 vehicles, causing motorists to run for their lives.
Somehow, only two people were injured, and they didn’t require hospitalization.
Interstate 15 was closed in Cajon Pass after mid-afternoon Friday but was mostly reopened by Saturday morning.
The Los Angeles Times and the San Bernardino County Sun had the best coverage of the fires.
Here are a few photos and a video from the fire that came over Twitter as it happened:
Here's the moment the burning semi truck burst into a fire ball. #NorthFire https://t.co/yrapD4xCpg
— Jim Dalrymple II (@JimDalrympleII) July 18, 2015
My friend @stuartpalley is an incredible wildfire photographer. Here, the #NorthFire: pic.twitter.com/D6vE74RPAW
— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) July 18, 2015
PHOTO: #NorthFire burns several vehicles trapped on 15 Freeway in Cajon Pass WATCH #LIVE: https://t.co/u5lTveArpy pic.twitter.com/lJhDZhmwTh
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) July 17, 2015
CBS2@11 HEAR FROM VICTIMS OF THE #NorthFire. The people who had to abandon their cars as flames surrounded them. pic.twitter.com/wGEcXlixtc
— Tom (T.J.) Wait (@CBSLATom) July 18, 2015
On the 15 freeway in Cajon Pass RT @RyanNews3LV: stranded drivers evacuating #northfire area. Pic Barbara LaRosa. pic.twitter.com/g6XqYwIwoe
— Tara Wallis (@tarawallis) July 18, 2015
Smoke drift from the #NorthFire over #ElmersBottleTreeRanch on #Route66. pic.twitter.com/9aLRLF9cl5
— The Desert Way (@desert_way) July 18, 2015
#NorthFire #Route66 pic.twitter.com/qBVTVl7BcG
— The Desert Way (@desert_way) July 18, 2015
In case you were wondering about the historic Summit Inn restaurant, it’s fine. It sits north of the fire, which started around the Route 138 junction.