Sheep Fire 81% contained

The Sheep Fire has continued to explode in Wrightwood near the Angeles National Forest, burning 990 acres and forcing mandatory evacuations for residents in Desert Front Road and Wild Horse Canyon. As of 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, crews reported 81% containment.

Evacuation orders and warnings were also lifted Wednesday morning. 

More than 650 firefighters worked to control the blaze.

Water-dropping aircraft including DC-10 fixed wing aircrafts and helicopters continued a heavy attack on the flames from above, working through Monday morning to work towards combatting the blaze. 

The San Bernardino County Sheriffs set up an evacuation center at Serrano High School. The SB County Sheriffs also declared mandatory evacuations for Wrightwood residents living in the area near Highway 2 to Mesquite Street, from Highway 138 through Sand Canyon.

In addition, the nearly 4,500 residents living in between Wright Road to Lone Pine are under an evacuation warning.

"We're always ready. We have contingencies in place and we have plans moving forward," said Mike McClintock with San Bernardino County Fire. "The biggest thing I can tell folks is ',Be ready.' The town of Wrightwood is in an evacuation warning, which is really giving them a heads up that the fire's in their backyard and to have a plan."

Those forced to evacuate were offered a shelter at Serrano High School at 9292 Sheep Creek Road in Phelan.

Some residents, like Dina Pollock, have been without power for hours, causing an increased sense of panic. 

"I haven't had any TV, phone, no access to the outside world at all," she said.

McClintock detailed a series of power outages stemming from power lines that sustained damage from the flames. 

"We're experiencing outage for most of the town of Wrightwood," he said. "If an evacuation order does go into play, we're going to work with our law enforcement partners and they're gonna go door-to-door and make sure everybody has the information."

The Sheep fire broke out Saturday at just one-half of an acre before exploding to 100 and then 775 acres in just hours. San Bernardino County Fire firefighters are at 5-percent containment. Authorities were going door-to-door on Sunday telling them to evacuate or prepare for that outcome.

Earlier on Sunday no structures were immediately threatened and no mandatory evacuations were in place. 

But as winds picked up through the day and the fire began to spread, the San Bernardino Fire Department issued a mandatory evacuation order for the Desert Front area that is north of Wrightwood.

Highway 2 was shut down from 138 to Sheep Creek area as crews continue to battle the flames. It has since been reopened.

As crews battled the blaze overnight, both water-dropping aircraft and ground units with Cal Fire remained on scene to prevent the flames from spreading to a group of nearby homes. 

"The helicopter was making drops until they couldn't fly anymore because of how erratic the winds were from the heat rising up from the atmosphere last night," said Cal Fire Captain Dustin Gill, whose crew had just finished a 24-hour shift.

Though they expressed cautious optimism after the lengthy battle continued into its second day, firefighters admitted a level of concern due to the high-powered winds expected to settle into the area through the greater part of Monday. 

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. 

CBSLA's Desmond Shaw was over the fire in Sky2 on Sunday afternoon. The blaze continued to spread quickly due to high-powered winds, steep terrain and dense vegetation.

Dozens of volunteers headed to the area in order to assist homeowners in transporting large animals like horses to safety.