Updated: Fire Crews Battle Blaze at Bernard Field Station in Claremont

The fire burned a total of 17 acres before it was extinguished, fire crews reported.

Updated at 7 p.m.: A brush fire grew to 17 acres and threatened homes Wednesday afternoon before being extinguished.
No injuries or property damage resulted from the blaze, which was reported at 3:27 p.m. near Foothill Boulevard and Dartmouth Avenue and was knocked down at 4:43 p.m.
Nearly 200 firefighters and a water-dropping SuperScooper were dispatched to protect homes in the area at the height of the blaze.

Firefighters planned to remain on scene into the evening to guard against potential flareups

Original story as follows:
A fire is burning at The Claremont Colleges' ecological research facility sending smoke throughout the area and posing a possible threat to local homes, according to the Claremont Police Department

An emergency message delivered via phones by Claremont police came through at 4:37 p.m.

According to the emergency broadcast, fire and police crews are on site of the 86-acre Bernard Field Station preserve.  The size of the fire is estimated at three acres, and it broke out around 3:27 p.m., according to a fire dispatcher.


"The fire is currently contained in the Station off Foothill Boulevard, bordering Mills on the east, College on the west, and Radcliff on the north," police said.

Currently, Foothill is closed to drivers between College and Mills, a Patch reporter on scene learned.

So far, no evacuations have been ordered— but that could change, the police department said.

"However homes bordering the area should be prepared with their essential emergency items in case of evacuation," the message stated.

About 115 firefighters were initially called to the scene of the fire, but it went to second alarm and about 80 additional crew members were dispatched to protect homes in the area, the fire dispatcher said.
A water-dropping SuperScooper was returned to its base, suggesting firefighters felt they were getting a handle on the flames. Four helicopters, including one from the Los Angeles Fire Department, remained on scene.
"We have plenty of resources on this thing," the dispatcher said.
As of 5 p.m., Patch spotted students, pulled-over motorists and nearby residents gathered around the various police checkpoints watching the smoke.
"We are asking that residents avoid the area to allow access for our emergency crews," police said.
The Robert J. Bernard Biological Field Station is described as "... an academic resource of Claremont University Consortium provided to The Claremont Colleges," according to its website.  Inside, is a variety of coastal sage scrub, Riversidian alluvial fan scrub, live oak forest, and grassland.  There's also an artificial lake with surrounding riparian woodland and several created vernal pools add to habitat diversity.

—City News Service