Pilot fire grows to more than 7,700 acres, threatening homes and forcing schools to close
The Pilot fire has burned thousands of acres in the mountains of San Bernardino County.
A wildfire in the mountains of San Bernardino County grew to more than 7,700 acres Tuesday, threatening thousands of homes and forcing schools to close, as crews across the state battled raging blazes in the late summer heat.
The Pilot fire has scorched 7,736 acres and is 6% contained, according to the U.S. Forest Service. About 5,000 homes were under voluntary and mandatory evacuation orders, according to Bob Poole, a spokesman for the forest agency.
Latest: Pilot fire scorches nearly 8,000 acres, containment jumps to 64% »
Since the fire was reported about noon Sunday, the flames have spread quickly, chewing through dry brush amid sweltering heat and rising humidity.
On Tuesday, winds ranging from 10 to 15 mph — with gusts of up to 25 mph — fanned the blaze. Much of the fire’s growth of more than 700 acres Tuesday was driven by active winds.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
School districts across the area canceled classes Tuesday.
Citing poor air quality, the Apple Valley Unified School District said schools would remain closed through Wednesday.
Hesperia Unified School District said it will continue to monitor the fire, but did not say when schools would reopen. Schools in the Silver Valley Unified School District were also closed but were expected to resume Wednesday.
About 1,475 firefighters are assigned to the fire. The blaze is “pretty active” around its southeastern boundary and the priority has been to protect the communities of Deer Lodge Park and Lake Arrowhead, Poole said.
There has been no structural damage reported in the rugged and rural area, which has several horse ranches. The dry vegetation, racked by summer heat and several years of California’s historic drought, has posed challenges in the firefight, officials said.
“It’s just very receptive to the fire and we’re just seeing spotting and very aggressive fire behavior,” Poole said.
Highway 173 is closed between Highway 138 and Arrowhead Lake Road. The American Red Cross has set up a reception and care center at Oak Hills High School and pet owners can bring their animals to the county’s Devore Animal Shelter.
Meanwhile, the Soberanes fire north of Big Sur was about 50% contained and stood at 67,092 acres, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. The fire, which has killed one person and injured three, was threatening more than 400 homes and some mandatory evacuation orders remain in place.
In Fresno County, the Mineral fire quickly spread to 800 acres after it ignited late Monday, according to Cal Fire. The grass fire west of Coalinga has nearly 800 firefighters working to control it.
As of Tuesday evening, the fire was 10% contained.
Winds in the area have fed the flames and prompted officials to issue mandatory evacuation orders for six homes. Of those, two families chose to leave and four others are holding out, according to Tony Botti, spokesman for the Fresno County sheriff’s office.
“The best thing we can do is advise them there is a potential for danger,” Botti said. “It’s up to them whether to heed our advice.”
Times staff writer Joseph Serna contributed to this report.
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UPDATES:
9:40 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details about the growth of the Pilot fire.
1:22 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details.
This article was originally published at 7:55 a.m.
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