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The Bridge Fire continues to advance toward foothill cities, with residents in north Claremont around Fergus Falls and Mt. Baldy having been advised to prepare to evacuate. The fire — now the largest burning in the state of California at 47,904 acres — burned some 13,000 acres overnight Tuesday and impacting structures in Wrightwood, including damage to the power infrastructure there. Thus far it has destroyed 20 homes in the Mt. Baldy area, and is currently backing down the slopes near Mt. Baldy Road, threatening additional structures there. Photo/by Alex McDonald

The Bridge Fire “continued to exhibit extreme fire behavior” overnight Tuesday, according to fire officials, burning some 13,000 acres and impacting structures in Wrightwood, including damage to the power infrastructure there. The fire had grown to 47,904 acres as of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. Photo/by Alex McDonald

The Bridge Fire grew overnight from 2,995 acres to 3,786 acres, but some 300 firefighters held it within its perimeter, with support continuing to arrive. It remains 0% contained. California Interagency Incident Management Team 5 assumed command of the fire at 7 a.m. Tuesday, following a sustained effort by U.S. Forest Service Quick Reaction Force night-flying helicopters, which dropped fire retardant on the blaze for more than five hours overnight. Photo/courtesy of USFS

San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department officials ordered the evacuation of all residents north of the San Antonio Dam up to Mt. Baldy Resort late Monday afternoon after the Bridge Fire more than doubled in size in a matter of hours, going from 1,225 acres at 1 p.m. to 2,995 acres by 7:30. The blaze remains 0% contained, with high temperatures and strong winds continuing to aid in its expansion. Photo/by Catherine McIntosh

Though the Bridge Fire has rendered the sky in Claremont a sickly yellow and the air is thick with ash, the U.S. Forest Service reports structures in the City of Trees and the unincorporated areas directly northwest of town are not in danger. Photo/courtesy of U.S.F.S.

A fast moving fire near the Glendora Mountain Road in the San Gabriel Canyon, seen from Grand Avenue in Claremont, continued to burn into the night as firefighters attempted to get control of the growing 200-acre blaze. Courier photo/Peter Weinberger

“One of the cool things about this project is, usually when people see drums, they just think banging along,” Powell said. “But for me being a drummer and percussionist, I hear drums as music. I don’t need anything else.” Courier photo/Peter Weinberger

Walter’s Restaurant, the iconic Claremont eatery that recently celebrated its 50th anniversary last November, caught fire early Thursday morning. “Extensive damage, we will be closed until further notice,” wrote Laila A. Ghafarshad, daughter-in-law to owners Nangy and Fahima Gharfarshad, on Claremont Connects Facebook page. The fire reportedly burned through the roof at the 310 N. Yale Ave. location. No injuries were reported from the 2:33 a.m. blaze, according to fire officials. Photo/courtesy of CBS News Los Angeles

A new twist in the saga to develop the 9.77 acre Claremont plot that was once home to La Puerta Intermediate School surfaced Monday when developer Trumark Homes informed city officials of its intention to go back to the 56-unit project it first proposed in 2021. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

The Rev. Munther Isaac, a theologian and Palestinian Christian priest who heads the Israel-based Evangelical Lutheran Christmas Church and Evangelical Lutheran Church of Beit Sahour, delivered a nearly 40-minute talk August 8 at Claremont Presbyterian Church. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo

In 2022 the City of Claremont removed 827 trees — an estimated 353 due to the windstorm — and planted 348 new trees. In 2023 it planted 478 and removed 443, and from January to March 2024 planted 74 and removed 65. Courier photo/Andrew Alonzo