Hesperia Fire Explodes Over 1,100 Acres

The Hesperia Fire that started Saturday night near Highway 173 in Summit Valley grew overnight to 1,130 acres with 5% containment, authorities reported.

On Sunday, ground and air firefighters continued to battle the blaze, which was fueled by high winds and highly combustible vegetation, according to Cal Fire.

The fire was first reported shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday along the 18000 block of Highway 173, near Arrowhead Lake Road, according to Cal Fire officials, who battled the blaze along with the San Bernardino County Fire Department. and other agencies.

The fire initially moved north of Hwy. 173, and around 10 p.m., began heading west, then east toward Arrowhead Equestrian Estates, which is under an evacuation order, according to Cal Fire and the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

The fire forced the closure of Hwy. 173 from the junction of Hwy. 138 at 6.9 miles east of the intersection of Hwy. 18 at Arrowhead Lake Road, according to Caltrans.

Authorities initially reported that one structure was threatened by the fire, however, that could change as the fire moves northeast toward Arrowhead Equestrian Estates and Lake Arrowhead Road.

A Cal Fire official told freelancer Jose Gonzalez that Mojave River Forks Regional Park on Hwy. 173 was initially evacuated at the start of the fire.

Portions of the fire are burning on vacant properties designated for the sprawling Silverwood housing development, which is under construction north of Hwy. 173 and south of Ranchero Road.

A witness said the fire was started by fireworks, the California Highway Patrol said.

Smoky skies

As smoke from the Hesperia Fire moved through the Victor Valley, the Wrightwood Fire Safe Council reported that smoke from the Post Fire in Los Angeles County could move into the Wrightwood, Pinon Hills and Phelan area.

The Post Fire began Saturday afternoon near Interstate 5 near Grapevine and prompted evacuations near Gorman as the fire grew to nearly 10,500 acres by Sunday morning, fire officials reported.

The Mojave Desert Air Quality Management District has issued a smoke warningwhich will remain in effect until Sunday due to “potential poor air quality” caused by the Hesperia fire.

The official cause of the Hesperia fire is under investigation.

The use of fireworks, including those described as “safe and sane,” is illegal in unincorporated San Bernardino County and within the city limits of Hesperia.

Report the use of illegal fireworks in sbcfire.org/fireworkssafety

This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz can be reached at RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on X @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared in the Victorville Daily Press: Hesperia Fire Explodes Over 1,100 Acres