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Southern CA Sheep Fire forces evacuations

(Note added October 11, 2009: Yesterday at 6 PM, the full (100%) containment of the Sheep Fire was announced. Just hours before the announcement, officials started a two-phase “rehabilitation project” that follows wildfires on federal lands. Phase 1 is called the “Fire Suppression Repair and Burned Area Emergency Response [BAER] which involves immediate post-fire actions taken to repair damages and minimize the environmental impacts of fire-suppression activities. The Sheep Fire started at 2:11 PM on October 3 and full containment was announced at 6 PM on October 10. The fire burned 7128 acres and suppression costs to date are $8.8 million.)

Saturday afternoon, a fast-moving wildfire in the San Bernardino National Forest was reported. By this afternoon (Sunday) the Sheep Fire had burned 3500 acreas and is only 10% contained.

(Update October 4, 2009: Breaking news – California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has declared a state of emergency in San Bernardino County. The declaration allows the state to employ all of its agencies and whatever personnel and resources are needed to fight the wildfire. The Los Angeles Times has photos of the Sheep Fire, a map of the wildfire, and updates of evacuation zones. There is also a feature story on the fight to save Wrightwood!)

The fire has already destroyed at least three homes. A mandatory evacuation order is in effect for the entire community of Wrightwood and parts of Lytle Creek in San Bernardino County, according to the National Forest Service this afternoon. Wrightwood has 3400 residents.

Evacuation centers are open at Eisenhower High School in Rialto (about 45 miles away from Wrightwood) and at the rairgrounds in Victorville, for those who are evacuating animals.

High winds, gusting to 45 miles/hour, are making firefighting conditions harder for the 1000 firefighters currently engaged. A high wind warning is in effect through tonight. The cause of the fire is unknown, although it began in the Lytle Creek area, east of Mount Baldy and west of the Cajon Pass.

-Bill at Cheshire Cat Photo™

You can view higher-resolution photos (*generally* 7-30 megabytes, compressed) at the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Pro Gallery on Shutterfly™, where you can also order prints and gifts decorated with the photos of your choice from the gallery. Apparel and other gifts decorated with some of our most popular photos can be ordered from the Cheshire Cat Photo™ Store on CafePress®. Both Shutterfly™ and CafePress® ship to most international locations worldwide! If you don’t see what you want or would like to receive an email when new photos are up on the site, send us an email at info@cheshirecatphoto.com.

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