The Pilot Fire was first reported Sunday noontime and by Monday night it has spread quickly and was only 10 percent contained by Tuesday.
Advertisement
Mandatory and voluntary evacuations covered 5,300 homes in the Southern California fire area between mountain communities around Lake Arrowhead and the high desert city of Hesperia to the north, said Lyn Sieliet, a U.S. Forest Service spokeswoman.
Dozens of homes have been evacuated.
Bob Poole, spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service said that vegetation in the area was so dry and it could just take a small spark to start a huge blaze.
There are now 842 firefighters assigned to this fire, including 91 engines, 15 water tenders, 14 crews, 11 dozers, 8 helicopters, 8 air tankers, including the VLAT assigned.
A wildfire north of Big Sur grew to more than 104 square miles Tuesday as more than 5,000 firefighters surrounded 50% of the fire with the help of air tankers and helicopters.
The Pilot Fire has intensified along the mountains of San Bernardino County.
The cause of the fire was still under investigation.
The 12-square-mile blaze forced the closure of Apple Valley and Oro Grande school districts due to poor and smoky air quality.
“It has grown, and the structure threat is still there”, she said.
“We feel it is in the best interest of safety that we keep our students and staff at home”, the Silver Valley Unified School District, which oversees nine schools in Mojave Desert, said in a statement on its website. Also closed was the Pacific Crest Trail from Deep Creek Hot Springs to Silverwood Lake.
Fire crews in California were battling three major wildfires, gaining ground on two of them but hampered by steep terrain while fighting a third blaze.
Evacuation centers have been set up in Oak Hills High School and Rim of the World High School.
Both sides of HWY 173 from HWY 138 to Arrowhead Lake Rd. and Arrowhead Lake Rd. south of Ranchero Rd.to HWY 173.
Advertisement
The South Coast and Mojave Desert air quality management districts have issued smoke advisories for the region. Pet owners can bring animals to the San Bernardino County Devore Animal Shelter. People who have pulmonary and cardiac diseases, older adults and young children were advised to reduce outdoor exposure.
