September 2, 1999
Web posted at: 12:06 p.m. EDT (1606 GMT)

In this story: Fighting fire with fire 'Everybody is so tired' RELATED STORIES, SITES

FAWNSKIN, California (CNN) -- Fire crews in Southern California are fighting to save resort towns in the San Bernardino mountains from a blaze that has burned more than 60,000 acres.

Throughout the West, fires burning on Thursday had already scorched more than 147,000 acres in California and four other states -- Idaho, Montana, Utah and Texas.

The Willow fire, which has been burning since Saturday from the Mojave Desert into the mountains 90 miles east of Los Angeles, is one of several major fires in California alone.

Many are nearly or completely contained, thanks to cooler temperatures and higher levels of moisture in the air.

But the Willow fire, just 30 percent contained, threatens tourist destinations such as Fawnskin, a tiny community that residents fear could be reduced to cinders.

As the blaze inched closer to the San Bernardino Mountain town Wednesday, erratic winds carried flames from tree to tree over steep cliffs peppered with granite boulders.

Firefighters ordered selected forests torched in an attempt to create buffer zones for homes.

"We're going to try to beat it at its own game," said Kathy Saindon, spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

Fire officials say they are concerned about all the fires burning in the West, but priority goes to this blaze near Fawnskin in California's San Bernardino Mountains because it is the largest

The Willow blaze, started by an illegal campfire, destroyed 12 desert homes in Apple Valley during the fire's initial stages.

In Fawnskin, where 380 people live year-round, resident Ron Shanahan, 44, stood outside the Gold Pan restaurant watching smoke rise dramatically over a ridge two miles away.

"I think it could take out half of this town," he said, gesturing to the small wooden shops and cabins lining the edge of Big Bear Lake. "We're not sure whether we should start packing yet. I mean, how can you even start to pack up 30 years of your life?"

On Wednesday, giant pine trees exploded in flames a few miles from Green Valley Lake, a resort hamlet at the 8,000-foot level not far from Lake Arrowhead and Big Bear.

Most of the residents scrambled to pack their belongings or volunteered to help fight the blaze.

"The worst part is that everybody is so tired," said fire Capt. Rick Mull, rubbing bloodshot eyes. "But everyone in the town is coming together to help us and help each other."

The bed-and-breakfast, camping and boating resort has about 350 full-time residents and many were staying despite a voluntary evacuation alert.

Rather than running, residents talk about the fire's impact on tourism over the Labor Day weekend. The final weekend of summer usually brings 500 people to Green Valley Lake.

"I don't know if the fire is going to get up here, but I'm getting calls from people who want to cancel their vacation," said Ted Fogel, who works at a cabin rental firm.

Down in Lucerne Valley, fire blackened Barbara Jo Jones' 35 acres of remote desert land at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains, but her home, goats and iguana were saved by firefighters on Tuesday.

"They are our heroes," she said. "I don't think I've ever had a hero before. We gave them coffee; they gave us our property."

Correspondent Jim Hill and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.