SHEEP FIRE UPDATE 3 P.M. - 10/6/09

 

For Immediate Release

 

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

SHEEP FIRE UPDATE

(Fire Crews Making Progress…Mandatory Evacuation Order for Wrightwood

Residents is Lifted…American Red Cross Starts the Process of Closing Shelters)

 

LOS ANGELES (Tue., Oct. 6, 2009 – 3 p.m.) – The Sheep Fire, a brush fire that erupted in the Lytle Creek area east of Mt. Baldy and west of the Cajon Pass at approximately 2 p.m. on Oct. 3 has currently destroyed five residences, burned an estimated 7,128 acres and is 32 percent contained according to the U.S. Forest Service.

 

Presently, the Sheep Fire is burning near the top of Lone Pine Canyon near Wrightwood, which is partly located in Los Angeles County. Fire crews have been successful in keeping the fire from burning into the community of Wrightwood. Numerous helitankers and fixed wing air tankers have dropped water and retardant on the fire, in addition back fires have been set to protect homes on the eastern edge of Wrightwood. Fire engine crews will continue to do structure protection and ground resources will start the process of mop-up as well as construct containment lines. A total of 1,947 personnel have been assigned to fight the Sheep Fire.

 

Road Opening:

 

• State Route (SR) 2 from SR 138 to Wrightwood
• Lytle Creek Rd is open to residents only with proper identification

 

Road Closures:

 

• Lone Pine Canyon Rd. at SR 138
• SR 2 from SR 138 to La Canada Flintridge
• Swarthout Canyon Rd. at Cajon Blvd.

 

A unified command still remains in tact comprised of U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Bureau of Land Management, San Bernardino County Fire and Sheriff’s Departments.

 

The American Red Cross (ARC) announced it is beginning the process of closing the shelters located at Eisenhower Senior High School in Rialto and San Bernardino County Fairgrounds in Victorville. ARC was coordinating the sheltering of residents in the Wrightwood community, including those residents in the Los Angeles County section of Wrightwood.

 

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SHEEP FIRE UPDATE - 10/6/09 – 3 p.m.

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Meals, resource and contact information are being provided to the remaining clients. Anyone needing further assistance from the American Red Cross may call the following:

 

·         High Desert Chapter (Victorville) at (760) 245-6511

·         Inland Chapter (San Bernardino) at (909) 888-1481

 

Pet Evacuation:

 

San Bernardino Animal Control is in the process of closing the shelter operations located at the Victorville Fairgrounds. Any evacuated animals that have not been picked by 3 p.m. will be transferred to the Devore Animal Shelter until they are reunited with their owners.

 

School Closure:

 

Snowline Joint Unified School District (Wrightwood/Phelan) is closed today

 

Additional Information and Resources:

 

• LA County 211

• U.S. Forest Service at (909) 383-5688
• For recorded updates, San Bernardino County Fire Department at (909) 355-8800
• San Bernardino County Animal Control at (800) 472-5609

 

CONTACT:     Ken Kondo, L.A. County CEO, Office of Emergency Management,

Program Manager and Public Information Officer, 213-792-5128

 

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