Pilot fire in San Bernardino County spreads to nearly 6,300 acres, triggering evacuations

A fast-moving wildfire in the mountains of San Bernardino County grew Monday to nearly 6,300 acres, prompting the evacuation of thousands of residents, authorities said.

About 375 homes were under a mandatory evacuation order in the Summit Valley area and Hesperia, according to the U.S. Forest Service and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

Update: Pilot fire grows to nearly 7,000 acres, shuts down local schools »

About 5,000 homes were under a voluntary evacuation advisory in Hesperia and nearby communities, Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Cindy Bachman said.

After it was first reported about noon Sunday, the Pilot fire spread quickly in dry brush and timber. As of Monday night, the blaze was only 6% contained, said Justin Taylor of the U.S. Forest Service.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Firefighters have worked in the air and on the ground to build fire lines and snuff out the flames, said U.S. Forest Service spokesman Bob Poole.

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A long camera exposure captures the burning embers of the Pilot fire in mountainous terrain southeast of Hesperia in Summit Valley.

  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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A picnic area is covered with pink fire retardant at the Morongo River Forks National Park as dark smoke fills the horizon from the Pilot fire southeast of Hesperia.

  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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The Pilot fire flares up late in the afternoon southeast of Hesperia.

  (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

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A hot and tired fire crew from Folsom marches back to the base after watching for hot spots at the Pilot fire near Silverwood Lake.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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The landscape off Highway 173 is still smoldering after the Pilot fire near Silverwood Lake scorched over 9,000 acres since Sunday afternoon.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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The rocks and terrain at the Mojave River Forks Regional Park are stained a bright pink from the fire retardant dropped during the aerial assault on the Pilot fire near Silverwood Lake.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Folsom firefighter Aaron Hill watches for hot spots at the Pilot fire near Silverwood Lake while fixed-wing tankers continue to deliver fire retardant on the ridgelines.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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The Pilot fire has grown to 6,963 acres with 6% containment. The aerial assault continues Tuesday morning.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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The leaves and terrain at the Mojave River Forks Regional Park are stained a bright pink from the fire retardant dropped during the aerial assault at the Pilot fire near Silverwood Lake.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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A cameraman gets his shot while flames jump Highway 173 and erupt in a previously unburnt area near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Running Springs firefighters check out the Pilot fire burning in the mountains of San Bernardino County.

  (Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times)

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Charred branches and scorched earth are all that remain after a wildfire rolled through the terrain off Highway 173 near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Residents watch as the Pilot fire rages through the Summit Valley on Monday.

  (Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighting helicopter drops water on a hot spot off Highway 173 near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County on Monday.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Ryan Nuckols watches the Pilot fire burn through the Summit Valley on Monday.

  (Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times)

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An air tanker sprays fire retardant to prevent the Pilot fire from burning beyhond the Summit Valley on Monday.

  (Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times)

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Fort Irwin firefighters work to prevent the Pilot fire from spreading through the Summit Valley on Monday.

  (Harrison Hill / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters drive through an area completely burned as the Pilot fire swept through an area off Highway 173 near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County on Monday.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Firefighters attack the Pilot fire off Highway 173 near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County on Monday.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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Burned power poles dangle in the breeze after fire swept through an area near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County on Monday.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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An air tanker drops fire retardant on the Pilot fire on Monday.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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A firefighting helicopter drops a load of water on a hotspot near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County on Monday.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

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The Pilot fire burns on Monday.

  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

“Because the vegetation is so incredibly dry, all it takes is a little spark and it’s just been chewing through it,” Poole said. “That’s been our difficulty.”

There has been no structural damage to homes in the rugged rural area, which has several horse ranches.

More than 840 firefighters have been assigned to battle the blaze, aided by five bulldozers and a fleet of helicopters and air tankers.

“Because of the aggressive attack by our firefighters, we were able to protect homes,” Poole said. “These guys — they’re highly trained, they’re highly motivated and they’re doing an incredible job in difficult conditions.”

The mandatory evacuation order on Highway 173 extended from Highway 138 to Arrowhead Lake Road and from Hesperia Lake Place to Highway 173, fire officials said. In Hesperia, the evacuation order covers homes from Santa Fe Avenue to Lake Arrowhead Road as well as homes south of Ranchero Road, Bachman said.

The voluntary evacuation order included those north of Deep Creek Spillway, south of Rock Springs Road, east of the Mojave River and west of Kiowa Road, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

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The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at Oak Hills High School. Pet owners can bring animals to the San Bernardino County Devore Animal Shelter.

Highway 173 is closed between State Route 138 and Arrowhead Lake Road.

The fire prompted a smoke advisory for Victor Valley and nearby communities, with the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District warning those with lung and heart disease as well as older adults and children to limit the amount of time spent outside.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District also issued a smoke advisory for residents in the central San Bernardino Mountains.

Meanwhile, to the north, the Soberanes fire in Monterey County has scorched 60,900 acres and is 50% contained. The blaze, which has burned for more than two weeks, has killed one person, injured three others and destroyed 57 homes and 11 outbuildings.

The victim, Robert Reagan III, was a bulldozer operator working to control the fire. At some point, he suffered fatal injuries, authorities said.

Other blazes in the state include the Cold fire, which has burned 5,731 acres at the southern tip of Lake Berryessa in Northern California and is 70% contained, and the Goose fire in Fresno County, which has burned 2,241 acres and is 96% contained.

For more California news, follow @MattHjourno and @brittny_mejia

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UPDATES:

8:25 p.m.: This article was updated with details on the growth of the Soberanes fire.

7:15 p.m.: This article was updated with details on the growth of the fire and the evacuation orders.

10:57 a.m.: This article was updated with details on the evacuation center and other fires in the state.

This article was originally published at 8 a.m.