Pilot Fire near Silverwood Lake now 4,500 acres; 5 percent contained

SILVERWOOD LAKE, Calif. -- Dozens of families were hoping they have a home to come back to as firefighters continued to battle a monster blaze in the San Bernardino National Forest north of Crestline near Silverwood Lake.

The 4,500-acre wildfire was at 5 percent containment Monday morning after the fast-moving blaze erupted near Pilot Rock Conservation Camp at just 30 acres on Sunday.

San Bernardino County fire officials said the blaze, dubbed the Pilot Fire, was burning north as 500 personnel continued the fire fight.

Fire officials from the U.S. National Forest Service said conditions were ripe for fire due to the drought.

"The vegetation is incredibly dry. All it takes is just one spark for it to move rapidly through, and that's quite frankly what happened yesterday...," said Bob Poole of the U.S. National Forest Service.

Although the brush fire was not in a densely populated area, about three dozen evacuations were ordered. Smoke advisories issued by health officials for the Mojave Desert area were also still in effect.

Evacuations were in effect in the Summit Valley area east of Cedar Springs Dam. According to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department, mandatory evacuations were ordered for Arrowhead Lake Road, south of Hesperia Lakes to Highway 173.

The American Red Cross moved its evacuation center from Ranchero Middle School to Oak Hills High School, located at 7625 Cataba Rd.

Those with small and large animals can take them to Devore Animal Shelter, located at 19777 Shelter Way in San Bernardino.

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

Those with questions regarding the Pilot Fire were urged to call the San Bernardino Fire Information Center at (909)383-5688.

No homes were burned in the fire as of Monday morning, and no injuries were reported.

It was not clear what sparked the blaze.