Sheep Fire 18% Contained: Angeles National Forest Official

WRIGHTWOOD, CA — A roughly 1000-acre wildfire burning in the Angeles National Forest has prompted evacuations of about 50 homes with about 300 people, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department and Los Angeles Times. As of Monday afternoon, the Sheep Fire is just 18 percent contained, Angeles National Forest spokesperson Dana Dierkes told the Times.

Residents of the rural communities of Wild Horse Canyon, Desert Front and a portion of Wrightwood were forced to evacuate Sunday evening, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff. The evacuation orders are in place from Highway 2 to Mesquite Street from Highway 138 to Sand Canyon. See here for a map of evacuated areas.

The rest of Wrightwood, a small community along Route 2 close to Phelan and Pinon Hills, is under an evacuation warning.

An evacuation center has been set up at Serrano High School in Phelan, while an evacuation center for small animals and livestock has been set up at the Devore Animal Shelter in San Bernardino, the sheriff’s department said.

The Sheep Fire was first reported Saturday afternoon near Highway 2 and Sheep Creek Road amid sweltering temperatures, low humidity and erratic winds. On Sunday, the blaze grew from 45 acres to nearly 800 acres in less than three hours, according to Cal Fire, Angeles National Forest officials and the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu

At that point, firefighters and sheriff’s deputies went door to door to warn residents that they were being evacuated.

Officials also closed Highway 2 from the intersection with Highway 138 until Sheep Creek, and on Highway 138 to Lone Pine Canyon Road, according to San Bernardino County Fire.

More than 700 firefighters are tackling the blaze and worked through the night, San Bernardino County Fire said. The crews will have to contend with expected winds of 25 mph, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Adam Roser. The terrain is also very steep, Cal Fire PIO Alison Hesterly told the Los Angeles Times. Vegetation in the area is also 40% drier than usual for this date, officials told the Los Angeles Times.

The cause of the fire is still officially under investigation, but San Bernardino County Fire Battalion Chief Mike McClinktock told KTLA he believes it was sparked by high temperatures and high winds.

AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu

“We had really strong, erratic winds that were pushing the fire around and into really dry, receptive fuels that haven’t burned for a while,” he said.

As of Monday, no injuries or structure damage have been reported, officials said.

RELATED:

Brush Fires Break Out Across SoCal; Wrightwood Fire Explodes