Schools closed again because of fire near Big Bear

Schools are closed for a second day in the Southern California mountain community where crews are battling a small but smoky wildfire burning through timber near a popular ski resort.

Firefighters have held the blaze in Big Bear Lake in the San Bernardino Mountains to 100 acres. It is 50 percent contained.

All schools within the Bear Valley Unified School District remain shut Tuesday because of poor air quality. Several mountain roads are off-limits.

Meanwhile in Central California, crews have made headway against a wildfire burning for nearly a month in the Sierra foothills east of Fresno. The 81-square-mile blaze is 17 percent contained.

Fresno County supervisors on Tuesday will discuss declaring a local emergency to get the state to help with costs to fight the stubborn fire.