Wind Fans Pilot Fire Burning Above Silverwood Lake

CRESTLINE (CBSLA.com/AP) — A rapidly growing forest fire has prompted the evacuation of several dozen homes in San Bernardino County.

At this time, the so-called Pilot Fire continues to burn across 4,500 acres and remains at five percent containment.

The blaze has shut down Highway 173 between State Route 138 and Arrowhead Lake Road, and Highway 138 between Old Mill Road to Highway 173.

A spokeswoman for the San Bernardino National Forest says residents in the sparsely populated Summit Valley area were ordered to leave their homes Sunday afternoon.

The order includes the south side of Highway 173 between Cedar Springs Spillway and Mojave Forks Park.

An evacuation center was set up in the desert town of Hesperia.

According to the Hesperia Unified School District, all schools will operate as normal.

The fire began shortly after noon and quickly grew to more than a square mile.

It is burning about 55 miles east of Los Angeles in a remote area near Silverwood Lake, a state recreation area, near the small mountain community of Crestline.

A massive plume of smoke could be seen blowing north toward the Mojave Desert.

More than 400 firefighters were assigned to the fire, and several helicopters and air tankers were also deployed.

Officials warn that air quality may reach unhealthy levels in the areas affected by the smoke.

The cause of the fire is under investigation.

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