KTLA

Bruder Fire in Redlands grows to 170 acres; evacuations lifted

The Bruder Fire burning in the south end of Redlands grew to cover 170 acres by Thursday night, but evacuation orders were lifted as crews strengthened containment lines.

Cal Fire initially tweeted the fire had grown from 60 acres to 100 acres overnight, but later told KTLA it had spread to 125 acres. Shortly before 3 p.m., Cal Fire officials estimated the blaze had charred 170 acres.

The fire was 50% contained Thursday evening with roughly 265 firefighting personnel at the scene.

All evacuation orders were lifted at 6 p.m. as crews determined fire activity had decreased enough for residents to return.

Thirty engines, six hand crews, three water tenders and two dozers had been used to contain the fire over the course of the day.

Evacuations were ordered Wednesday night for homes south of E. Sunset Drives and north of Live Oak Canyon Road from the I-10 Freeway to San Timoteo Canyon Road, according to Cal Fire’s San Bernardino Unit. There were also evacuations orders in the area of Puesta Del Sol, they said.

Firefighting aircraft could be seen making drops on the area Thursday morning.

The fire appeared to have been mostly knocked down but crews are concerned about a fire weather watch still in place.

“A little bit of wind and higher temperatures can bring all those hot embers that are still over there over our line … so it’s a serious concern for us,” Cal Fire San Bernardino Capt. Bennet Milloy said.

The blaze broke out Wednesday at about 8:50 p.m. in the 13200 block of Bruder Lane.

No information on a possible cause of the fire has been released.