Blue Cut fire evacuees face freeway closures and jammed back roads

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About 10 buildings belonging to the Thanksgiving Korean Church were reduced to rubble by the Blue Cut fire.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Miguel and Mabel Ramos, both 73, survey the devastation of the Blue Cut fire after it swept through their Oak Hills residence.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Mabel Ramos, 73, is overcome by emotion upon seeing the devastation caused by the Blue Cut fire, which swept through her Oak Hills residence.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Miguel Ramos holds a single chicken that survived after the Blue Cut fire swept through his Oak Hills property, burning the guest house and killing about 135 animals.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A CalFire helicopter makes a water drop on still smoldering remnants of Blue Cut Fire on the hilltop ridges along Hwy 2 in Wrightwood.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blue Cut fire continues to burn north of Lytle Creek in San Bernardino County.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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Ground crews put out errant fires that popped up near the train tracks in Keenbrook in San Bernardino County.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighting helicopter makes water drops to keep errant fires from approaching the train tracks near Interstate 15 at Keenbrook in San Bernardino County.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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Fire burns on the train tracks near Interstate 15 at Keenbrook in San Bernardino County.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighting helicopter drops water on glames getting close to the train tracks near Interstate 15 at Keenbrook in San Bernardino County.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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An abandoned structure sits in the path of the Blue Cut fire after it has passed through Lone Pine Canyon in San Bernardino County.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighting helicopter makes a water drop on a flare-up of the Blue Cut fire along Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass on Thursday.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blue Cut fire burns in the mountains of the San Bernardino National Forest, leaving charred vegetation in its wake near Wrightwood on Thursday.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighting helicopter flies through thick smoke as it makes a water drop on a flare-up of the Blue Cut fire along Interstate 15 in the Cajon Pass.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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A dust cyclone swirls through a charred moonscape left by the Blue Cut fire near Wrightwood.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Scott Steele of the Beverly Hills Fire Department comforts one of two dogs hurt in the Blue Cut fire next to a burned structure on Monte Vista Road in Phelan.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Jaime Jungle, left, and Chris Schreiner from San Bernardino County Animal Control carry one of two dogs hurt by the Blue Cut fire at a burned-out structure on Monte Vista Road in Phelan.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A light pole with plastic globes melted in the heat of the Blue Cut fire stands along Tamarind Avenue in Phelan.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Fire crews are busy mopping up hot spots from the Blue Cut fire on Highway 2 on the way to Wrightwood.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A helicopter makes a water drop in very dense smoke from Blue Cut Fire smoldering in the hills along Highway 2 near Wrightwood.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Smoldering hillside from Blue Cut fire along Highway 2 near Wrightwood.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Work crew prepare to repair downed power lines damaged by the Blue Cut fire on Highway 138 at the junction of 15 Freeway.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blue Cut fire grew to more than 31,000 acres Thursday morning. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times )

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A car destroyed by the Blue Cut wildfire in Phelan, California.

(JONATHAN ALCORN / AFP/Getty Images)

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A firefighter douses the Blue Cut fire burning alongside Lytle Creek Road on Wednesday night.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters attack the Blue Cut fire as it burns along Lytle Creek Road on Wednesday night.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters work to defend structures on Lytle Creek Road on Wednesday night. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter monitors the Blue Cut fire on the side of Lytle Creek Road on Wednesday night.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter works to defend structures on Lytle Creek Road on Wednesday night.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters set back fires on Lytle Creek Road on Wednesday night. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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With a full moon in the background, firefighters monitor the Blue Cut fire along Lytle Creek Road on Wednesday night. (Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighting helicopter drops water on a hillside to battle the Blue Cut fire west of Interstate 15 on Wednesday in Devore.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Smoke from the Blue Cut fire burns over Interstate 15 on Wednesday in Devore.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters work to extinguish flames on Cajon Blvd along the interstate 15, in San Bernardino County on Aug. 17.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter battles the Blue Cut fire in thick brush along Lytle Creek Road.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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CalFire firefighters keep watch on the Blue Cut fire as it roars on a hillside above Sheep Canyon Road on Wednesday in Lytle Creek. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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A sky crane drops water on the Blue Cut Fire to keep it from crossing Lytle Creek Road on Wednesday in Lytle Creek. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Lytle Creek residents check-in at the evacuation center set up at the Jessie Turner Health & Fitness Center on Wednesday in Fontana. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blue Cut fire burns close to Wrightwood. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters work around the Blue Cut fire near Wrightwood. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blue Cut fire burns a hillside near Wrightwood. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighting helicopters battle the Blue Cut fire as it burns out of control around the community of Lytle Creek.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Lytle Creek residents Nico and Dalia Santucci prepare to evacuate as the Blue Cut fire burns near their home.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighting helicopter drops water on the Blue Cut fire as it burns above Lytle Creek on Wednesday.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Air tanker drops fire retardant near residences threatened by Blue Cut Fire along Highway 2 Wednesday afternoon.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A structure is engulfed in flames as the Blue Cut fire burns out of control in Lytle Creek.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighting airplane drops fire retardant on the Blue Cut fire in the foothills of the San Bernardino National Forest.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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Towering flames of the Blue Cut fire burn out of control in the foothills of the San Bernardino National Forest above Lytle Creek.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighting helicopter drops water on bruning brush as the Blue Cut fire burns out of control in the foothills of the San Bernardino National Forest on Wednesday.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blue Cut fire exploded out of control Tuesday in the Cajon Pass, scorching 30,000 acres and destroying an unknown number of homes in several rural San Bernardino County communities.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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David Pearson, who lives on Lone Pine Canyon Road, decided to stay at home in Wrightwood as long as conditions allowed.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighter Bryan Hagan and Pegi Fall, standing along Lone Pine Canyon Road, watch as the Blue Cut fire approaches Wrightwood. Fall has decided to stay as long as conditions allow.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blue Cut fire exploded out of control Tuesday in the Cajon Pass, scorching 30,000 acres and forcing over 80,000 to evacuate.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A cat wandering around jumps way from hot surface and flames emitting at still smoldering structure at Hess Road.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Destruction brought by Blue Cut fire on Hess Road in Phelan.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Smoke rises out from underneath railroad tracks at a damaged bridge near the Interstate 15 damaged by the Blue Cut fire burning in San Bernardino County.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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Michelle Keeney and her husband, Scott, salvage some old signs from gutted Summit Inn Wednesday morning. Michelle Keeney is the manager of the restaurant destroyed in the fire.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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Spot fire continue to burn in what remains of the gutted Summit Inn at the junction of the 15 Freeway and Highway 138 Wednesday morning.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)

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A melted sign from a McDonald’s restaurant shows the damage as firefighters check the area after the Blue Cut fire swept through Cajon Junction.

(EUGENE GARCIA / EPA)

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Burned homes and vehicles are left in the wake of the Blue Cut Fire that broke out in Devore near the Cajon Pass on Aug. 16, 2016.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Burned homes and vehicles are left in the wake of the Blue Cut fire that broke out in Devore near the Cajon Pass on Aug. 16, 2016.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Smoke from the Blue Cut fire that broke out in Devore near the Cajon Pass and quickly spread on Aug. 16, 2016.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Fire continues to burn along Highway 138, in San Bernardino County.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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During the night, a portion of the Blue Cut fire burns along Interstate 15.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter returns to his vehicle as fire continue to burn along Highway 138 in San Bernardino County.

(Marcus Yam / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blue Cut fire still burns out of control into the evening off Highway 138 in Summit Valley, Calif.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Winds blow hot embers along a burning fence line as the Blue Cut fire torches the landscape into the evening off Highway 138 in Summit Valley.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Motorists flee The Blue Cut fire as it burns out of control on both sides of Highway 138 in Summit Valley.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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Residents watch in despair as the Blue Cut fire burns homes on the hillside off Highway 138 in Summit Valley, California.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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An air tanker drops fire retardant near homes as the Blue Cut fire burns out of control on both sides of Highway 138 in Summit Valley, California.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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A home is engulfed in flames as the Blue Cut fire burns out of control on both sides of Highway 138 in Summit Valley, California.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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San Bernadino County firefighter David Pingree works to save a home near Hwy 138.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blue Cut fire burns out of control on both sides of Highway 138 in Summit Valley, California.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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A home located at 5375 Hwy 138 in Phelan is consumed by the Blue Cut fire as it rages out of control August 16, 2016.

(Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times)

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Fire crews head back to their truck after a failed attempt to stop the Blue Cut Fire spreading along Highway 138 in Phelan, California.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blue Cut Fire roars out of control behind greenhouses along Highway 138 in Phelan, California.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter watches as the Blue Cut Fire roars near Highway 138 as it burns vegetation and power poles in Phelan, Calif. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times )

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Fire crews attempts but can not stop the Blue Cut fire as it spreads along Highway 138 in Phelan, California.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter reports that the Blue Cut fire is burning on both sides of Highway 138 in Phelan, Calif. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times )

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A power pole burns as the Blue Cut fire burns out of control on both sides of Highway 138 in Summit Valley, California.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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A house is surrounded by flames as the Blue Cut Fire roars above Highway 138 in Phelan, Calif., on Tuesday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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A firestorm approaches as a fire crew begins to pull out at Mormon Rocks Station in the San Bernardino National Forest off Highway 138.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighter on Tuesday monitors the Blue Cut fire along Highway 138, near the Cajon Pass.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blue Cut fire engulfs the Mormon Rocks Fire Station in the San Bernardino National Forest off Highway 138 in Phelan, Calif., on Tuesday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blue Cut fire burns along California Highway 138 on Tuesday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blue Cut Fire roars out of control as it heads towards home off Highway 138.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blue Cut fire throws up a large plume of smoke shortly after it broke out late Tuesday morning.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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The Blue Cut fire engulfs the Mormon Rocks area off Highway 138 in Phelan, Calif., on Tuesday.

(Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

By Laura J. Nelson and Brittny Mejia

Aug. 17, 2016 6:30 PM PT

Reporting from LLANO, Calif. — The Cajon Pass is one of Southern California’s most vital transportation links, connecting Los Angeles to Las Vegas and serving as a key shipping route for trucks headed east with produce and goods.

The massive wildfire that ripped through the pass this week closed several major freeways and roads, causing a commuter nightmare that also complicated the massive evacuation effort. Motorists and truckers were left stranded on either side of the closure.

Officials closed dozens of miles of two major commuter and trucking arteries after flames from the Blue Cut Fire roared down a mountainside Tuesday night and jumped the 15 Freeway, damaging guardrails and scorching abandoned big-rig trucks.

A truck burned in the Blue Cut Fire near Interstate 15 in Lytle Creek, Calif.

Commuters and evacuees sought alternate routes to the 15 and Highway 138 on Wednesday, taking smaller, mountainous roads toward the high desert and to Los Angeles. Traffic snarled most roads in the area, with jams rippling outward to Yucca Valley in the east and to San Bernardino in the west.

California Highway Patrol officer Robert Vandecar parked his cruiser along the side of the Pearblossom Highway in Llano, where he turned back drivers headed south toward the fire and east toward Las Vegas.

“It’s a dynamic situation,” Vandecar told a group of people gathered on the side of the road next to his cruiser, and the roads needed to be cleared for emergency vehicles and evacuees.

Penny Koval, 53, waited anxiously for directions to Phelan, where her 95-year-old mother lives.

“I’m trying to get to her house to help her get things together,” Koval said. “They’re talking evacuation. I’m terrified.”

As she and other motorists tried to find a way in, dozens of other cars, some pulling trailers, tried to make their way out.

Raw video from Blue Cut fire near the Cajon Pass.

Nearly 35,000 homes and more than 82,000 residents in the area are under mandatory evacuation orders, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said. As a result, southbound mountain roads were gridlocked.

Aerial footage of the Pilot Travel Center in Hesperia showed trucks lined up in long rows outside the convenience store. A clerk there said more than a hundred truckers were waiting along Highway 395 for roads to reopen.

What impact the fire might have on goods movement is still unclear, said Shawn Yadon, chief executive for the California Trucking Assn.

BNSF also stopped trains through the area after the Blue Cut Fire scorched a stretch of freight railroad tracks that curve through the Cajon Pass.

Caltrans spokeswoman Terri Kasinga said the agency is working to install temporary K-rails along the northbound 15 Freeway to keep drivers away from guardrails damaged by the fire, but did not have an estimate of when the freeway would reopen.

Further complicating commutes, a big rig carrying 10 tons of peaches veered off the 18 Freeway northeast of Big Bear Lake on Wednesday morning and flipped on its roof, the California Highway Patrol said. A resulting spill narrowed the freeway to one lane for hours.

The CHP urged evacuees and commuters to drive safely, particularly on roads that are not equipped to handle such a high volume of traffic.

People heading toward Los Angeles should take Highway 18 to Highway 247 to Highway 62 to the 10 Freeway, a route that passes through the Lucerne and Yucca valleys, officials said.

Truckers and travelers headed to Las Vegas from Los Angeles should steer around the Cajon Pass closure by taking the 10 to the 62 to Highway 247.

[email protected] | [email protected]

Follow @laura_nelson and @brittny_mejia on Twitter.

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