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As the Sheep Fire in San Bernardino County rages on, officials this afternoon announced that more homes have been lost or damaged, increasing the total to seven residential structures in the Wrightwood area. Mandatory evacuations for some 6,000 to 8,000 people are expected to be lifted by the end of the day.
The blaze is burning on the San Gabriel Mountains in the San Bernardino National Forest. Some of the brush has not burned for 40 or 60 years but firefighters said today's improved weather should aid in the fight.
So far, the fire has cost $1.2 million dollars with nearly 1,300 fire personnel currently on scene. Despite that, 75 percent of the total cost will be reimbursed to local agencies because Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency on Sunday.