Emigrant

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Emigrant Fire Story

The Emigrant fire started as tractor-trailer fire on the northbound Vista Del Lago exit on Interstate 5 near Pyramid Lake. The first report into the Angeles National Forest was at 1:34 p.m. on September 17, 2021.   The first firefighters on-scene reported that the fire had quickly spread to the vegetation adjacent to the interstate highway and ran up the slope. With the hot, dry weather and wind, the fire quickly spread in a northerly direction, burning uphill in steep terrain with gullies and drop-offs. 

The US Forest Service along with Los Angeles County Fire Department sent considerable ground and aerial firefighters to the scene and battled the fire. Initially a total of twelve aircraft responded to the fire, including retardant dropping airtankers, super scoopers and helicopters providing much needed assistance to ground based firefighters. On the ground, fire engines, hand crews, fire dozers and water tenders attacked the flanks of the fire, eventually halting the forward movement of the fire.

The California Highway Patrol, and Caltrans quickly closed both north and southbound off-ramps to Vista Del Lago as well as shutting down the right two lanes of northbound Interstate 5, well into the late evening.

Firefighters supported by aircraft both day and night made an aggressive attack held the fire to 255 acres after the second day.

The U.S. Forest Service brought in additional firefighting resources into Southern California to supplement fire suppression efforts. On this incident, firefighters and apparatus traveled from as far as Colorado, Idaho, Montana, and Arizona, and assisted in fire suppression. 

Current Conditions                     ~~Final~~

The fire is being held at 255 acres and 100% containment was reached at 6:00pm on September 27, 2021.

The fire burned in a northernly direction, east of Interstate 5 and north of the Vista Del Lago overpass, which is east of Pyramid Lake. The fire remains a potential threat to a high-pressure natural gas line, power transmission lines, homes in the area as well as interstate commerce on Interstate 5.

Firefighters have contained the fire.  Both the Emigrant and Route fires will be in patrol status, with firefighters monitoring conditions within fire control lines.

The fire is named “Emigrant” since the location was near Emigrant Landing Day Use Area at Pyramid Lake.