Nestled in the Angeles National Forest lies two small towns, Mount Baldy Village above the Ontario area, and Wrightwood, nestled in a valley on the eastern side of the forest. The two typically close-knit communities, most well known for their ski resorts, recreational opportunities and proximity to the Greater Los Angeles area, were sent into a state of fear as the Bridge Fire swept through the eastern half of the Angeles National Forest in early September, narrowly missing the communities, as well as causing many of the foothill communities to be evacuated. Starting on Sept. 8 near Highway 39 above Glendora, the fire spread at a moderate rate. On Sept. 10, however, the fire was given good fire conditions, allowing it to grow exponentially. Although the fire appeared far away from campus, it still hit close to home for some Cal Poly Pomona students. One of those affected was Sean Crowley, a mechanical engineering student who calls Wrightwood his home. As residents of Mount Baldy Village and Wrightwood evacuated on Sept. 9 and 10 respectively, they didn’t know what they would come back to, or if they would have anything to come back to. Although some homes were destroyed, the two towns are still standing, which some consider it a success. The forest in the burn zone is now closed to the public for public safety and to allow the forest to recover, similar to what happened after the Bobcat Fire in 2020. A number of popular hiking trails amongst LA locals are in the closure, a few of which include the East Fork Trail, which is the Bridge to Nowhere trail, Inspiration Point Trailhead near Wrightwood, which is a trailhead to many trails as well as the Devil’s Backbone trail to Mount Baldy.