Southern California Wildfire Burns Over 3500 Acres Of San Gabriel Mtns

WRIGHTWOOD, CA - OCTOBER 4: Steve and Shannon Coombs, one of the very few families who refused to follow mandatory evacuation orders, and their children (L-R) four-year-old Cameron, two-year-old Madisyn, and six-year-old Connor, watch smoke rise from a backfire set by firefighters one-half mile away to try to prevent the 3,500-acre Sheep fire from reaching the mountain town on October 4, 2009 in Wrightwood, California. The wildfire began near Lytle Creek and is threatening the mountain ski community of Wrightwood and other communities. Strong erratic winds and a steep terrain is driving the wildfire through the San Gabriel Mountains, charring more than 3,500 acres and destroying at least four homes so far. Approximately 1,000 firefighters are battling the blaze. (Photo by David McNew/Getty Images)