Butler 2 Fire sparks plans for Highway 18 repairs

(1) Caltrans is planning emergency repairs to Highway 18 to protect the roadway from rockslides and other falling debris.

Geologists inspected the slopes above the highway Friday and Sunday to assess what kind of repairs would be needed after the Butler 2 Fire, Caltrans spokeswoman Terri Kasinga said.

Officials are concerned that the 14,039-acre fire burned away vegetation that was shoring up the hillsides, and has increased the risk of rock and mudslides in the Arctic Circle, a 4.7-mile section of Highway 18 between Big Bear Dam and Lake View Point.

"There's a lot of debris that has and will come down as a result of this fire," Kasinga said.

Rain could speed the flow of rocks, pinecones and logs down the hill, she said.

Motorists should expect more frequent closures on the highway this winter during heavy rain or snow, she said.

The highway, which saw some minor rock falls on Friday, reopened Sunday night. Caltrans has regular patrols monitoring the area to ensure that the roadway is clear, Kasinga said.

Crews will add drain covers to large drainage pipes to keep debris from getting in and blocking the flow of water. They also will add dirt berms to act as barriers.

The project is expected to cost less than a million dollars and could begin late this week or early next week, Kasinga said.