Washed-out bridge strands Lytle Creek residents in San Bernardino County mountains

Scores of residents in the Happy Jack section of Lytle Creek in the mountains of San Bernardino County were left stranded this week after a severe storm destroyed the only bridge providing access to the neighborhood.

The bridge on Sycamore Drive, which crosses Lytle Creek and serves as the sole roadway into the neighborhood, was overwhelmed by storm runoff on Wednesday, Dec. 24, resident Don Parrington said.

Water flowed over and around the structure before washing out approximately 20 to 30 feet of roadway — leaving a gap estimated at 5 to 10 feet deep.

Parrington, a 72-year-old semi-retired psychotherapist and administrator who has lived in Happy Jack for 13 years, said the collapse has left roughly 250 residents cut off — including an estimated 25 to 30 people who are elderly or disabled and unable to safely cross the washed-out roadway on foot.

“Those folks are, at the moment, isolated,” said Ryan Beckers, a spokesperson for the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

While emergency response remains available, fire engines and ambulances cannot reach the neighborhood, though creek levels have dropped enough that residents and responders can walk across, said Eric Sherwin, another San Bernardino County Fire Department spokesperson.

“For a medical emergency, we’re hiking in,” he said.

Ellen Pollema, 73, a Happy Jack resident of more than 30 years and a member of the Lytle Creek Fire Safe Council, on Saturday said she has experienced multiple severe storms and wildfires in the area over the years.

“You better be prepared to be isolated every once in a while,” Pollema said. “Get your supplies ready.”

Parrington said one resident, frustrated by the lack of immediate access, used a small excavator to build a temporary dirt ramp down to the creek, allowing some four-wheel-drive vehicles to cross.

Neighbors across the community have used shovels and other equipment to clear water and mud from properties and help affected resident, Pollema said. One resident even rented a pump in order to remove water from a flooded home.

“This is how a community is supposed to be,” Pollema said.

Pollema said residents have also received support from San Bernardino County, the Red Cross and World Central Kitchen.

While the Happy Jack neighborhood avoided the worst of the damage, Pollema said lower sections of Lytle Creek were hit harder, with several homes flooded and coated in mud. One property lost its entire concrete driveway during the storm, she said.

Parrington said that he was contacted Saturday morning, Dec. 27, by a representative from the office of San Bernardino County Supervisor Dawn Rowe, who provided an update on recovery efforts.

According to Parrington, the area has been declared a disaster area, allowing the county to move forward with emergency repairs: County engineers assessed the site on Thursday, Dec. 25, and began diverting creek flow while crews moved dirt to construct a temporary access road for residents and emergency vehicles.

Parrington and Pollema said access could be restored as early as Sunday, Dec. 28.

Emergency-response crews have delivered water and generators to residents and were continuing to address power and water disruptions, Sherwin said. The emergency responders will continue to hike into the area as needed until access is restored.

“It’s so beautiful to live in a forest, but it’s not without its unique hazards,” Sherwin said.