Fact Check: "Highway 138 remains partially shut down due to ongoing fires."
What We Know
The claim that "Highway 138 remains partially shut down due to ongoing fires" is not accurate. A recent incident involving a small vegetation fire, referred to as the West Fire, occurred on June 13, 2025, along Highway 138 in Hesperia, California. Firefighters responded quickly, and the highway was temporarily closed to manage the fire, which burned approximately one acre. The highway was reopened just a few hours later at 4:20 PM the same day, with no reports of evacuations, structural damage, or injuries (Pain In The Pass).
Furthermore, according to CAL FIRE, while wildfire activity is trending above normal in California, there is no indication that Highway 138 is currently experiencing any ongoing closures due to fires (CAL FIRE).
Analysis
The evidence suggests that the claim is misleading. The fire that prompted the highway closure was a small, contained incident that was resolved within hours. The reopening of Highway 138 shortly after the fire was extinguished indicates that there are no ongoing fire-related issues affecting the highway at this time.
The source reporting the fire, Pain In The Pass, is a local news outlet that provides timely updates on traffic and fire incidents in the area. Their report was specific about the timeline of the fire and the subsequent reopening of the highway, which adds credibility to their information (Pain In The Pass).
On the other hand, CAL FIRE's data provides a broader context regarding wildfire activity in California, confirming that while there are elevated risks and some active incidents, Highway 138 is not currently affected by ongoing fires (CAL FIRE).
The claim lacks current relevance and misrepresents the situation by implying that there is an ongoing closure due to fires when, in fact, the highway has been reopened.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that "Highway 138 remains partially shut down due to ongoing fires" is false. The highway was temporarily closed due to a small fire that was quickly contained and has since been reopened. There are no ongoing fire-related closures affecting Highway 138.
