Pilot fire burns 4,500 acres in San Bernardino Mountains

A wildfire that ignited in the San Beardino Mountains on Sunday continued to bu thousands of acres Monday moing.

The 4,500-acre Pilot fire ignited just after noon east of Highway 138 and south of Hesperia.

• PHOTOS: Fight against Pilot fire continues on Day 2 as acreage grows to 4,500

• PHOTOS: 400 firefighters battle Pilot fire on Day 1 in San Beardino Mountains

• VIDEO: Pilot fire smolders in a bu area in Summit Valley right off Highway 173

• VIDEO: A bulldozer moves after cutting fire breaks all night in Pilot fire fight

• VIDEO: Hand crews hit Pilot fire hotspots

Firefighters estimated the fire covered about 1,500 acres Sunday evening. The dramatic jump, they say, could be due to inaccurate early estimates.

A mandatory evacuation was in effect along Highway 173 between Highway 138 and Arrowhead Lake Road. Also evacuated was Arrowhead Lake Road up to Hesperia Lake, according to a Cal Fire Twitter account.

That area consists of about 25 homes, Brown said.

Voluntary evacuations covered about 150 homes in the Deep Creek area just south of Rock Springs and east of Mojave River.

As of Monday moing, none of the evacuees have made use of the evacuation center at Oak Hills High School, Brown said.

Highway 138 between I-15 and Highway 18 was open Monday.

Nobody, including the 400 firefighters battling the flames, has been injured as of Monday moing.

Agencies assisting the San Beardino National Forest came from San Beardino County, Ontario, Chino, Idyllwild, Murrieta and Riverside.

Horses, livestock and other farm-type animals in need of a home during the fire can be taken to the San Beardino County Fairgrounds, said the fair’s CEO Geoff Hinds.

The fair can house household animals, but Hinds recommends if it’s possible, those animals should be taken to local shelters.

So far, Hinds said, people impacted by the fire have brought a total of 16 equine-type animals such as horses and donkeys, 18 goats and about 20 miscellaneous feathered animals to be housed there.

The address, for those who may need it, is 14800 Seventh St., Victorville.

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