Wildfire in California, September 13 to 15, 1997

Name: Wildfire in California, September 13 to 15, 1997
Start: 1997-09-13T12:30
End: 1997-09-15T11:00
Location: California

September 13 to 15, 1997 · NWS SGX · 1 event in 1 county or zone

1 wildfire, as filed by the National Weather Service.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
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The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: $250,000
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, San Bernardino

When: September 13, 12:30 PM PST to September 15, 11:00 AM PST
Where: San Bernardino County, Running Spgs
Property damage: $250,000
Coordinates: 34.841, -116.178 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Shots fired in a target range, set off a fire in the San Bernardino National Forest. Strong winds in the area helped spread the fire that torched 1500 acres before it was brought under control. Fifteen buildings, including 10 homes were destroyed, most in the tiny communities of Frebalda, Smiley Park, and Live Oak, southwest of Running Springs. Five hundred people were evacuated from their homes for more than a day, and Highways 330 and 18 were closed for an extended period of time. Damage to homes and buildings was estimated at $250,000.

What these are

Wildfire: A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in California in 1997 Every state in 1997 This day in weather history Warnings in California, September 1997

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5614106.