Evacuations lifted for homes near Summit Fire

BIG BEAR, Calif. -- Evacuations have been lifted for about 500 homes threatened by a fire near Snow Summit Ski Resort in Big Bear.

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

The evacuations were lifted at 2 p.m. Monday, according to U.S. Forest Service spokesman Uriah Hernandez.

Firefighters working in steep terrain held the blaze to about 100 acres. It was 50 percent contained.

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.

All schools in the Bear Valley Unified School District will be closed Tuesday due to poor air quality. Fallsvale School in Forest Falls will be open.

Firefighters are hoping to contain the blaze before temperatures soar and humidity drops with the coming heat wave. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.