City of Big Bear Lake prepares for a busy winter after difficult fire season
The City of Big Bear is still recovering after an intense fire season, which forced resident evacuations and a halt in business.
Officials with the city say they are thankful for the hardworking fire crews who helped to protect the city. In a statement sent to News Channel Three, the city said the following:
"We are grateful for the swift response of our partner agencies who worked tirelessly in a collaborative effort to protect our community during the Line Fire. Big Bear Lake is a resilient, close-knit community, and we look forward to welcoming visitors back to enjoy the wonders of winter in our alpine paradise."
With Fire season over, an influx of visitors are expected to come in droves over the next few months. The area is known for its serene views, and snowcapped mountains. It's also a popular area for camping, snowboarding, and skiing during the winter. According to the city, Big Bear Lake is Southern California’s premier 4-season resort community. It welcomes over 1.2 million visitors per year to our picturesque city, which is just a short drive from major metropolitan areas like Los Angeles, San Diego, and Las Vegas. With endless exciting outdoor recreational opportunities, world class shopping, dining, and entertainment throughout the year tourists flock to the area, especially in the winter.
Local Big Bear Resort Property Specialist Holly Gardner says despite the tough fire season caused by the Line Fire, the housing market is up. Although fire risks remain for the mountain communities, buyers understand the risk when purchasing properties in the area.
"You're in the trees, and that's always going to be something that is a risk up here," said Gardner. "Just like, you know, tornadoes in other places, or hurricanes in others. It's, it's what comes with territory. People pretty much know when they're buying up here in the mountains that wildfires are something that could potentially be a problem, but we have fantastic firefighters, so we don't stress on it too much."
Gardner also says she works with insurance companies to make sure her clients are covered.
"If you get my list, then we know who insures up here and who will help you through the California FAIR Plan for fire insurance," explained Gardner.
According to Gardner, it's also a buyers market, which is great for people looking to get a home or start a business in the area.
"It's a little different than it was. During COVID, obviously, it was crazy up here, and it's slowed down quite a bit since then," said Gardner. "But, I'm very busy. We have a lot of buyers currently looking. Our inventory is up, so there's a lot more to choose from. It has turned to a buyer's market here. So that's good news. We're all seeing a lot of activity."
Gardner says the city is recovering from the fires, and has a very strong community. Like many of the business owners in Big Bear, Gardner is already looking forward to an exciting winter season.
"We have a lot of new businesses in the village and a lot of thriving businesses, and that comes with our tourist season," said Gardner. "So it's great to see everybody coming up again after being shut down for the fires. You know, we need the business from our tourists. We appreciate them."
