Fire erupts near Snow Summit Ski Resort in Big Bear

BIG BEAR, Calif. -- A fire erupted near Snow Summit Ski Resort in Big Bear Sunday afternoon, prompting mandatory evacuations and road closures. It is 30 percent contained.

The blaze, dubbed the Summit Fire, was reported near Pine Knot Avenue and Knickerbocker Road at 12:25 p.m.

Mandatory evacuations were ordered for residents in the area from Knickerbocker Road east to Georgia Road and south of Pennsylvania Road to the forest boundary and east to McWhinney Lane and Thrush Drive. At least 400 homes are being threatened by the blaze, according to fire officials.

Voluntary evacuations were ordered for the area south of Brownie Lane, east of Thrush Drive, north of Switzerland Drive and west of Summit Boulevard. Parents were notified that all of the schools within the Bear Valley Unified School District, except for Fallsvale Elementary School, will be closed Monday due to the fire.

An American Red Cross evacuation center was set up at Big Bear Convention Center, 42900 Big Bear Blvd. A shelter for small animals was set up at the San Bernardino County Animal Shetler, 19777 Shelter Way in San Bernardino.

Radford and Clarks Grade roads, Wildhorse Lane and Skyline Drive were shut down. The fire had burned 100 acres by Sunday evening. Four air tankers and helicopters, along with a dozer and water tenders were deployed to aid in the firefight.

About 400 firefighters battled the blaze and dealt with steep, rugged terrain in the mountainous area. Snow Summit turned on its snow cannons as a preventative measure.

U.S. Forest Service officials said no structures have burned nor were any injuries reported.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.