Authorities have issued evacuation orders for communities in the path of a wildfire that broke out over the weekend in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles and was burning toward populated areas.

The so-called Sheep Fire, which broke out on Saturday evening in the Angeles National Forest, had burned across some 990 acres of brush and vegetation as of Monday afternoon in an area that had been affected by the ongoing drought plaguing California and much of the US Southwest.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Office ordered evacuations for Wrightwood, a ski town of some 4,500 people at along the Pacific Crest Trail, as well as homes dotted along Highway 2.

The blaze was listed as only 5 percent contained as of Monday morning. Nearly 700 firefighters were thwarted by flames burning in dense vegetation and steep terrain, fanned by erratic winds, fire managers said on tracking website InciWeb.

No casualties had been reported and no structures burned, according to fire managers, but downed power lines were hampering communications. An evacuation center for pets and small animals had been set up in San Bernardino.

California has endured a string of devastating wildfires over the past several years as a lingering drought and warmer temperatures have left forest and grasslands bone dry.

Meanwhile, in Arizona, hundreds of residents near Flagstaff were evacuated over the weekend due to the ‘Pipeline’ fire, burning to the north of Flagstaff, Arizona, which grew to an estimated 5,000 acres (2,000 hectares) after igniting on Sunday, fueled by gusty winds through the desiccated grasses and brush. The windy, warm conditions complicated containment efforts, according to officials, who added that the fire continues to be active on all sides.

At the height of the fire threat, more than 2,100 homes were placed under mandatory evacuation orders, and at least one home was confirmed to have gone up in flames.

The cause of the blaze is still under investigation and there have not been any destroyed structures, but a 57-year-old man has been arrested with reports stating he was disposing of toilet paper by setting it on fire.