"Just helping out the neighborhood": Wrightwood wrestling coach braves 'Bridge Fire'

The still out-of-control Bridge Fire has now burned over 49,000 acres and destroyed some homes near Baldy Village and in Wrightwood.

KNX News' Pete Demetriou reports that despite mandatory evacuation orders, a few people in the town stood their ground to save some houses.

As the fire roared down the mountain and approached homes in Wrightwood on the upper end of Acorn Street, Mike Tevestin, a wrestling coach at the local high school, came out from his home, hose in hand, to deal with hot spots and embers that were raining down.

"Yeah, we stayed around with our fire hoses, got a fire hydrant here, and made sure the neighbor was safe," Tevestin said.

He said he could feel the heat of the fire, about 170 degrees by his estimation, from two lots away.

Joined by some of his young wrestlers, Tevestin said,  "It was pretty scary. It was real bad. My eyes are still red."

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When his wrestlers asked, 'What are you doing? Are you crazy?' he replied, "I'm just helping out the neighborhood."

For the most part, Wrightwood remains a ghost town. The only people on the streets are camp crews and engine companies patrolling the area and remaining alert for any change in the winds that could cause a surge along the fire perimeter.

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