Barton Flats is a recreation area located in the

San Bernardino National Forest The San Bernardino National Forest is a United States National Forest in Southern California encompassing of which are federal. The forest is made up of two main divisions, the eastern portion of the San Gabriel Mountains and the San Bernard ...

near

San Gorgonio Mountain San Gorgonio Mountain, also known locally as Mount San Gorgonio, or Old Greyback, is the highest peak in Southern California and the Transverse Ranges at . It is in the San Bernardino Mountains, east of the city of San Bernardino and north-nort ...

. The nearest major town is

Big Bear Lake, California Big Bear Lake is a small city in San Bernardino County, California, located in the San Bernardino Mountains along the south shore of Big Bear Lake, and surrounded by the San Bernardino National Forest. The city is located about 25 miles (40&nb ...

. A fire began at 3:52 p.m. Wednesday the 17th of June, 2015 behind Camp de Benneville Pines in the Jenks Lake area of Barton Flats. The cause is still unknown. The flames traveled east and southeast, blackening heavily forested mountainsides that haven't burned in over a century. The surrounding

Mojave desert The Mojave Desert ( ; mov, Hayikwiir Mat'aar; es, Desierto de Mojave) is a desert in the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada mountains in the Southwestern United States. It is named for the indigenous Mojave people. It is located primarily in ...

was filled with ash and smoke so thick, the Sun didn't break through for 3 days.

On the 10th day of the Barton Flats fire, 06-27-15, nature stepped in and helped the firefighter's put out this nine-day blaze, by raining on what was left of the remaining smoldering fire. Barton Flats is the southern gateway to

via highway 38 from the 10 freeway.

References

San Bernardino National Forest {{SanBernardinoCountyCA-geo-stub