SAM Magazine--Big Bear Lake, Calif., Mar. 26, 2004--A forest fire that burned 400 acres led to the evacuation of Bear Mountain and Snow Summit ski areas late Thursday, and Bear Mountain remained closed Friday. By late Friday the fire was under control, though, and both areas will be open on Saturday. Neither area suffered significant damage.

The blaze was a prescribed burn begun on Wednesday by the Forest Service in stands of trees damaged by drought and a beetle infestation. The fire got out of control Thursday afternoon, when the fire swept up one side of the mountain and then descended on Bear Mountain. A small ski patrol hut at the top was the only casualty.