Winds cooperating as crews battle Sheep fire

Schools in the Snowline School District were closed this morning as firefighters continued their efforts to contain the 7,500-acre Sheep fire in the San Gabriel Mountains.

The blaze that began Saturday forced the evacuation of thousands of residents in the mountaintop community of Wrightwood and continues to threaten some 2,000 homes, said Kristel Johnson of the U.S. Forest Service.

Johnson said firefighters were encouraged today by calmer winds.

“The fire has significantly laid down and that’s due to the decrease in the wind. We’ve got the favorable weather that we hope to have,” she said.

At least three homes have been destroyed in the Swarthout Canyon area and authorities suspect more structures may have been damaged.

Most of the efforts over the weekend concentrated on keeping the fire away from Wrightwood and firefighters at one point engaged in an all-out battle against the blaze on the town’s eastern edge. The fire is 20% contained.

-- Ari B. Bloomekatz

Photo: An air tanker makes a retardant drop over the Sheep fire in the San Gabriel Mountains near Wrightwood. Credit: Irfan  Khan / Los Angeles Times

Interactive map: San Bernardino County Sheep fire

Photos: Fire in the San Gabriel Mountains

Comments

[Rob G.]

I wonder why it is called a "Sheep fire"

[Kathy]

It is NOT in the San Gabriel Mtns! It is in the San Bernadino Mtns! RIGHT?????

[Kathy]

It is NOT in the San Gabriel Mtns! It is in the San Bernadino Mtns! RIGHT?????

[Chuck Irwin]

Wrightwood is in the San Gabriel Mountains but in the San Bernardino National Forest.

[jmuhj]

Praying for everyone in the fire zone and that the firecrews get a good day weatherwise, to put the fire out. Former area resident who still loves the area very much.

[Vicky Rinek]

I believe the area is in the Angeles National Forest which contain three nationally-designated wilderness areas: the Cucamonga Wilderness, the San Gabriel Wilderness, and the Sheep Mountain Wilderness.
The Sheep fire is named after the Sheep Mountain Wilderness.
The San Bernardino National Forest is on the east side of I-15 FWY.

[starfirerapture]

Wrightwood is in the San Gabriel Mountains, and the Angeles National Forest. The only thing San Bernardino about it is the county it's in, and it straddles the line with LA County.

Do none of you have google? Holy cow.

[cassidy]

ok ok I live there and have been for the last 21 years...there is no sheep wilderness, the name sheep fire comes from the creek name! It is angeles national forest and the moutain ranges surrounding it are the san gabriels!!! It is on the san andreas fault and does border 2 counties! however the LA county line is probably 5 miles from the fire so its on the west side of wrightwood!!!! There's your geography lesson for the day!