Fire at San Bernardino Mountains forces UniCamp to relocate

A UCLA summer camp program relocated its first session after a wildfire broke out in the San Bernardino Mountains Wednesday afternoon and threatened air quality at the original campsite.

About 60 UCLA student volunteers and leaders who were present for on-site training before the first session were safely evacuated. No children were present at the campsite.

Program Director Michael Starr said the summer program UniCamp is intended to inspire low-income youth to pursue higher education.

The fire started about 4 p.m. Wednesday, three days before the first session began on June 20, about 3 miles from the original site. Program directors decided to relocate UniCamp’s first session from Camp River Glen in Barton Flats to Lake Perris in Moreno Valley.

The fire spans 17,405 acres and is 30 percent contained as of Tuesday morning said Lee Beyer, a fire information officer for the San Bernardino National Forest.

“We feel like fire refugees but UCLA students are resilient and still wanted to hold (UniCamp),” said Wally Wirick, the camp’s executive director. “We got everything we needed to run camp and slept underneath the stars.”

The first session will rely heavily on donations to account for materials only available at the original site. Wirick said UCLA Recreation and UC Riverside donated kayaks and canoes. Private donors will continue to supply additional materials, which are being collected for later sessions.

Development Director Martin Mai said relocating and camping lakeside has allowed participants to try water sports and new hiking routes, though some programs such as archery were cancelled because the materials were only available at the original location.

“There’s no way we’re going to permanently relocate,” Mai said.Our campsite is untouched at the moment, but our concern right now is air quality.”

Mai added camp leaders hope to return to the original campsite in two or three weeks for the following sessions, after air quality tests confirm it is safe to do so.

Compiled by Jillian Frankel, Bruin senior staff.

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