Thousands of Wrightwood residents were forced to evacuate their homes and businesses as the Bridge Fire surged dramatically in a single afternoon.
After slowly burning through 800 acres in the Angeles National Forest over the weekend, the wildfire rapidly expanded to 4,000 acres by Tuesday afternoon.
“It started getting really smoky around 1:30 p.m.,” recalled Robin Daly, a local business owner. “By 2:45 p.m., it was extremely dark. By 3:15 p.m., I was texting my husband, telling him to come home—we needed to get going.”
Daly, who has lived in the mountain resort community for eight years and owns a vacation rental called the Wrightwood Hideaway, quickly prepared to evacuate. By 5:15 p.m., she and her family were on the road, heading toward Upland.
“The roads were a bit congested since fire crews were coming into town via Highway 138 and Highway 2, but we managed to reach the Inland Empire, Upland area in about 45 minutes,” Daly said.
By 6 p.m., Cal Fire reported that the Bridge Fire had grown to 34,247 acres, prompting a mandatory evacuation for all Wrightwood residents.
“It can happen so fast, and this is a perfect example,” Daly said. “We didn’t even get a warning. No one’s ever fully prepared, but when the time comes, you do what you have to do to get your family, your animals, and yourself out safely.”
Live feeds from Mountain High Resort and other wildfire cameras showed flames creeping up the hillside toward Wrightwood. Sirens echoed through the town, and authorities used loudspeakers to urge people to leave immediately.
As the fire raged through the night, firefighters struggled to contain it. With multiple fires burning across four Southern California counties, resources were stretched thin. The Angeles National Forest crews sought assistance from Northern California and out-of-state agencies.
“These three simultaneous fires are putting immense pressure on firefighting resources,” said Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone, whose department was working tirelessly to contain the Bridge Fire. “We’re requesting help from Northern California and neighboring states.”
Once Daly and her family reached Upland, she finally had a moment to process the chaotic day.
“It’s heartbreaking because I started this business to share the beauty of this town with others,” Daly reflected. “We’re all devastated, just packing up what we can. You caught me at the right time—we finally sat down and had a quick meal.”
