Some Homes Without Power As Residents Return Home After Blue Cut Fire

CAJON PASS (CBSLA.com/AP) — Nearly a week after the Blue Cut Fire began burning in San Bernardino County, firefighters Monday were extinguishing hotspots and doing erosion control while utility crews replaced infrastructure lost to the blaze.

There was minimal fire activity, but many reminders of the destructive path of the fire, which burned 58 square miles and destroyed 105 homes in Cajon Pass and the San Gabriel Mountains. About 100 homes were still without power in the area Monday.

With all evacuations lifted, many residents returned home to assess the damage.

"Some, like part of me thought maybe there would be something," said Tiana Bowerman, who lost many of her possessions when the trailer she was renting was destroyed in the blaze. "It's all just gone ... We grabbed the dogs and basically got in the car and left. We didn't take anything but the clothes on our back."

Bowerman and her boyfriend were sleeping in her car for days until she finally returned home Monday.

Even amid the tragedy of the fire, there was at least one happy moment -- one of Bowerman's dogs gave birth to a litter of puppies while they were living in her car.

One of Bowerman's neighbors returned home Monday to find the fire had spared her home.

"As soon as we left we had this sense that we weren't going to come back," the neighbor said.  "A lot of people were not so lucky and our hearts go out to them."

Another obstacle for those returning home: Highway 138 was still closed at the 15 Freeway as crews complete their cleanup of the area.

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