San Bernardino Mountains Wildfire Recovery Will Take Years

Forestry officials say recovery will take years in the San Bernardino Mountains area scarred by last month’s 13,825-acre Butler II wildfire.

People, animals and roadways will be threatened for years, and the endangered Mountain Yellow-legged Frog, Southwestern Willow Flycatcher and California Spotted Owl will struggle to survive in their ravaged habitat.

The U.S. Forest Service released a report this week with recommendations for dealing with the fire aftermath, including the likelihood of rockslides imperiling Highway 18 and flooding.

The report says charred hillsides have no vegetation to catch runoff, which is threatening four campgrounds and about five miles of the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from Mexico to Canada.