WRIGHTWOOD, Calif. (KABC) – Firefighters on Monday continued to fight a wildfire in the Wrightwood area that burned nearly 1,000 acres over the weekend and forced some people to flee their homes.
The fire, called Sheep Fire, erupted on Saturday amid scorching temperatures and a dry brush, and strong winds continued to fan the flames. By Sunday afternoon, the fire had risen to at least 990 acres and had been controlled by only 5%.
Mandatory evacuations have been issued for Desert Front Road, Wild Horse Canyon Road and the Wrightwood community – the evacuation order is for Highway 2 to Mesquite Street, Highway 138 to Sand Canyon and Wright Mountain Road to Lone Pine Canyon Road.
There is also an evacuation warning for all of Wrightwood, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office said.
By Monday morning, weather conditions had improved significantly, allowing crews to establish a stronger line of restraint around the fire, aided by drops of water from the helicopter.
The Red Cross has opened an evacuation center at Serrano High School, located on 9292 Sheep Creek Road in the unincorporated community of Phelan.
Small animals and livestock can be taken to the Devore Animal Shelter at 19777 Shelter Way in San Bernardino.
Highway 2 was closed from Highway 138 to the Sheep Creek area, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department.
Longtime residents of the area said they were concerned because they had not seen a fire burn in the area before.
“When you have fires coming from the south, through Little Creek, up through the area, they’re used to it, and while they’re no less scary, it’s known,” said Wrightwood resident Scott Berg. “And since it’s unknown, we don’t have fires that you see on this side very often, and that’s what worries most residents.”
The cause of the fire remains to be clarified.
DEVELOPMENT: We will add more details to this report when they become available.
Copyright © 2022 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.
Add Comment