North Fire 45 percent contained; 15 Freeway reopens in both directions

CAJON PASS, Calif. -- A fast-moving brush fire in the Cajon Pass near the 15 Freeway stayed at 3,500 acres and was 45 percent contained on Saturday. About 700 structures were threatened and one person was injured.

The U.S. Forest Service previously reported the fire had grown to 5,454 acres, but later revised the number back down to 3,500.

All lanes of the 15 Freeway between State Route 138 and Oak Hill Road in the Cajon Pass reopened Saturday after the fire shut it down the day prior.

Thunderstorms and heavy rain swept the area, which helped about 680 firefighters battling the blaze.

On Friday, the brush fire quickly moved through the pass, charring more than 3,500 acres, burning structures and prompting evacuations.

Full list of North Fire road closures and evacuations

The fire broke out near the northbound lanes around 2:30 p.m., according to the U.S. Forest Service. The blaze moved quickly and ended up destroying 20 vehicles and damaging 10 others. About 50 to 75 cars were left abandoned on the freeway as firefighters rushed people off the road when the flames got too close.

The fire reached Sage Street in the rural community of Baldy Mesa, causing mandatory evacuations of more than 7,000 people east of Sheep Creek Road, north of State Route 138, west of the 15 Freeway and Highway 395, and south of Phelan Road. At about 6:30 p.m. Saturday, residents were being allowed back in through Baldy Mesa and Phelan roads.

Three homes, eight outbuildings and 44 cars were destroyed in the area, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

PHOTOS: North Fire erupts next to 15 Freeway in Cajon Pass

An evacuation center has been set up at Serrano High School at 9292 Sheep Creek Road in Phelan. An animal shelter is open at the San Bernardino County Fairgrounds, located at 14800 7th Street in Victorville.

Five drones halted firefighting efforts for about 25 minutes, and officials are asking people to keep drones away from brush fires.

"As soon as we see drones, we shut down all of our aircraft for the safety reasons. Obviously, if a drone got sucked into a wing or a propeller, that could have some serious impacts," Lee Beyer, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service, told ABC News.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

The 15 Freeway is the main route between Southern California and Las Vegas.