California fires cast haze over Southern Nevada

FAWNSKIN, Calif. -- A wildfire in Southern California's San Bernardino National Forest grew to 18,000 acres on Saturday, forcing evacuations and sending smoke into the skies over Southern Nevada.

The fire near Big Bear Lake was reported Friday afternoon and was fed by winds up to 20 mph. Low humidity helped it grow substantially overnight.

U.S. Forest Service spokesman Judy McGuire said none of the blaze had been contained.

Winds carried smoke into the Las Vegas Valley early Saturday.

In response to numerous calls from the public, Las Vegas fire officials issued a statement Saturday to allay concerns over the source of the smoke.

"There are no fires currently" in Southern Nevada, Las Vegas Fire Department spokesman Tim Szymanski said.

The winds from the southwest that carried the smoke to Southern Nevada were expected to continue at least through tonight, according to the National Weather Service.

Winds of 10 mph to 20 mph were expected this morning, growing to 15 mph to 25 mph by this afternoon.

"We're expecting the smoke to remain until at least then," said Katie LaBelle, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Las Vegas.

In California, the communities of Fawnskin, which is about 85 miles east of Los Angeles, and Green Valley Lake were under mandatory evacuation.

Voluntary evacuations were called for Lucerne Valley south of the Pitzer Buttes area, McGuire said.

About 600 firefighters were aided by water drops from helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, McGuire said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

Meanwhile, crews were mopping up a fire that charred 2,170 acres in a remote mountainous area east of San Diego.

The blaze in the Cleveland National Forest was 95 percent contained Saturday, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman Audrey Hagen said.

The Review-Journal contributed to this report.