The Bridge Fire, currently raging through the Angeles National Forest, has escalated to become the largest active wildfire in California, engulfing an enormous area of 47,904 acres. According to officials on Wednesday, nearly 40 structures, primarily homes, have been destroyed by the fast-moving flames. As a result, the Mount Baldy and Wrightwood communities have been placed under mandatory evacuation orders.

The fire, which originated in the San Gabriel Canyon area on Sunday afternoon, underwent a sudden and dramatic escalation on Tuesday night, posing a serious threat to nearby communities like Wrightwood. The blaze remains uncontained, standing at 0%.

During a press conference the following morning, officials reported that the Bridge Fire had ravaged 20 homes in Mount Baldy and an additional 13 in the Wrightwood area. Six cabins were also reduced to ashes. The flames continue to endanger around 2,500 structures, leading to sweeping evacuation orders and warnings that remain in effect.

Fortunately, no significant injuries or fatalities have been reported in connection with the Bridge Fire. However, L.A. County Sheriff Robert Luna announced that three individuals, including an off-duty sergeant from the Sheriff's Department, were trapped in a remote area five miles west of Mount Baldy. Although they are currently safe, their rescue is pending until the smoke dissipates.

As of now, the cause of the fire remains undetermined. Despite the subsiding heat wave that previously exacerbated fire conditions across Southern California, officials are closely monitoring the movements of the flames.

Residents who were forced to evacuate overnight spoke of the unprecedented intensity of the situation. One evacuee, John Haskell from Wrightwood, expressed his concern, saying, "I've never seen this before, ever. There's a possibility we might lose everything there. But our family is safe. Hopefully everyone gets out and no one gets hurt… I've been through a lot of them. Nothing like this."

Given the significant escalation of the Bridge Fire on Tuesday, an emergency declaration was swiftly issued as the fire crossed from Los Angeles County into San Bernardino County.

Evacuation orders have been issued for the East Fork communities of Camp Williams and River Community, as well as all residents north of San Antonio Dam up to the Mount Baldy Resort. Additionally, the areas of Pinon Hills, Lone Pine Canyon, and the entire community of Wrightwood are under mandatory evacuation.

Evacuation warnings have been issued for San Antonio Heights, Upland, and northern Claremont, as a precautionary measure against the ongoing southeast portion of the Bridge Fire.

Evacuation centers have been set up at the Jesse Turner Center in Fontana and the Hacienda Heights Community Center to accommodate those displaced by the fire.

Multiple road closures are in effect, including East Fork Road at Highway 39, Glendora Mountain Road, Glendora Ridge Road, and Mount Baldy Road at Shinn Road. Vehicle congestion has resulted in the closure of Highway 39 at the mouth of the canyon by the California Highway Patrol.

Forest visitors have been directed to evacuate from the area as announced by the Angeles National Forest on social media.

Sheriff Luna emphasized the importance of resident safety and urged those under evacuation orders to leave immediately. He warned, "If we're asking you to evacuate, there is no property worth risking your life for."

State Route 138 from Lone Pine to Beekley Road, as well as State Route 2 from Big Pine to SR-138, are closed to traffic. San Gabriel Canyon and the East Fork of the San Gabriel River are also inaccessible due to the ongoing fire situation.

The firefighting efforts to contain the Bridge Fire continue, with a multi-agency response from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, CAL FIRE, and the U.S. Forest Service. As the fire threatens more communities and structures, the focus remains on protecting lives and properties at all costs.