LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- Firefighters in Southern California benefited from good weather Monday in their battle against the Sheep fire in San Bernardino County, fire officials said.
Winds were calmer and temperatures fell, San Bernardino County Fire Department spokesman Ryan Beckers told KTLA-TV, Los Angeles.
"We're taking advantage of some good weather and we're hopefully making some good progress on the fire," Beckers said.
Beckers said evacuation orders would likely remain in place until at least Tuesday night. Seven structures have been destroyed or damaged, KTLA-TV reported.
Fire officials said the fire was 20 percent contained Tuesday afternoon, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Almost 1,300 firefighters are involved in the operation. Nine helicopters were dropping water and 11 fixed-wing aircraft were dropping fire retardant on the flames.
Thirty-five engines from San Diego County were deployed to help battle the Sheep fire. The approximately 200 firefighters were deployed by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the U.S. Forest Services and local city fire departments in the county, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Nick Schuler told The San Diego Union-Tribune.
The Sheep fire, burning near the ski resort area of Wrightwood, has burned about 7,000 acres since it broke out Saturday, Schuler said.
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger declared a state of emergency for San Bernardino County, freeing up state resources to fight the blaze.
Schools in Williams, Ariz., were closed Monday because of a fire that has burned about 1,000 acres and forced the evacuation of more than 60 residents, the Arizona Republic reported. The evacuees were allowed back to their homes Monday morning, the Republic reported.
The fire began Friday and marched toward Williams, a city of 3,300 residents north of Phoenix. The fire was 10 to 15 percent contained Monday after fire crews lost control of a prescribed burn in the Kaibab National Forest.
