Wildfire In San Bernardino National Forest Grows To 4,000 Acres

Saturday, September 15th 2007, 6:31 pm

By: News On 6

FAWNSKIN, Calif. (AP) _ An out-of-control wildfire in the San Bernardino National Forest shifted toward a scattered cluster of homes Saturday, prompting evacuations and forcing road closures.

The fire, which has burned some 4,000 acres, moved northeast toward Fawnskin, which is about 85 miles east of Los Angeles. Evacuations have been called near Big Bear Dam, U.S. Forest Service spokesman Judy McGuire said.

An evacuation center was set up at Big Bear High School in Sugarloaf. It was unclear how many homes were affected.

The fire was reported Friday afternoon and was fed by winds up to 20 mph. Low humidity helped it grow substantially overnight. McGuire said none of the blaze had been contained.

Voluntary evacuations were called for Lucerne Valley south of the Pitzer Buttes area, McGuire said.

Fire officials also evacuated several campgrounds, and some roadways in the area were closed to traffic.

About 600 firefighters were aided by water drops from helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft as they battled the blaze, which was burning in steep terrain, McGuire said.

Its cause was under investigation.

Meanwhile, crews were mopping up a fire that charred 2,170 acres in a remote mountainous area east of San Diego. The blaze in the Cleveland National Forest was 95 percent contained Saturday, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman Audrey Hagen said.