Rapidly growing Hesperia wildfire prompts evacuations

A wildfire in Hesperia prompted evacuations Saturday night and continued to grow into Sunday morning.

The Hesperia Fire was first reported around 6 p.m. in the 18000 block of North Highway 173, according to CAL FIRE San Bernardino.

By 8 p.m., it grew to over 300 acres. By 9 p.m., it was over 500 acres and by 10:30 p.m., it was over 700 acres.

Initial reports had the fire burning more than 1,300 acres as of 6 a.m. Sunday with 7% percent containment; an hour later, the blaze had grown slightly to 1,130 acres, fire officials said.

By Sunday evening, officials had downgraded the acreage to 1,078 acres and said that crews had reached about 20% containment on the fire.

No injuries or damage to structures were immediately reported.

An evacuation warning is in place for the Lake Arrowhead Equestrian Estates community near Highway 173 and Arrowhead Lake Road. Road closures in the area have also been issued by California Highway Patrol.

Authorities added that residents with large animals can take them to Mojave River Junction in Hesperia or the Santa Barbara County Fairgrounds.

Firefighters and air crews have responded to the scene to battle the blaze. As of 10 p.m., the fire was at zero percent containment. By 2:45 p.m. Sunday, containment remained at just 7%.

The cause of the vegetation fire remains under investigation. Officials said the expansion remains wind-driven and continues burning north.

“Crews from the ground and air continue to work on permittee control, containment lines and structure protection,” said the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

A poor air quality warning due to smoke from the fire was issued by the Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District on Saturday night.

This advisory covers San Bernardino County and will remain in effect through Sunday, June 16.

“This advisory may be extended or amended further, consistent with smoke and fire behavior, firefighting efforts, NWS and air quality forecasts,” officials said.

Residents living in the area were urged to take precautions. Those most susceptible to issues from unhealthy air include children, the elderly and people with heart and respiratory illnesses.

In areas impacted by smoke or poor air, residents should:

• Consider avoiding any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion
• Keep windows and doors closed
• Run your air conditioner if you have one – recirculation function is ideal
• Avoid using a swamp cooler or whole-house fan to prevent bringing outdoor pollutants inside.
• People with respiratory or heart disease, older adults, and children should remain indoors

More information from CAL FIRE can be found here.

On Saturday night, firefighters continued to battle the Post Fire that ignited near the 5 Freeway in Gorman. That fire has grown to more than 14,000 acres.