LYTLE CREEK – With another fire season underway, the Forest Service is rushing to complete the rehabilitation of the area burned in last year’s largest fire.

The Sheep Fire covered more than 7100 acres between Lytle Creek and Wrightwood.

Forest service spokesman John Miller says erosion caused by the winter rains wasn’t the only problem.

“We had problems with some of our roads in the burn area and we’ve been working on those.”

Unwanted plants such as mustard and Russian thistle are being uprooted.

“We have put the AmeriCorps crews in there to give the existing native plants a chance to recover.”

The Pacific Crest Trail is open for hikers, but with a few detours. (INT)

Story Date: July 9, 2010