Battling the Pilot fire to a standstill

A wildfire in the mountains of San Bernardino County grew only slightly overnight, remaining under 8,000 acres, with 70% containment, officials said Thursday.

The Pilot fire has burned 7,899 acres and triggered evacuations and school closures since it was reported about noon Sunday. There are 1,584 firefighters battling the blaze.

Drastic improvements in containment were achieved by a fleet of helicopters and air tankers that attacked the fire, as well as by the socalled containment lines that firefighters have built since the blaze began.

“We continue to make significant improvements in our line construction,” U.S. Forest Service spokesman Bob Poole said. “There was minimal fire activity overnight, in fact all through yesterday.”

The cause of the blaze is under investigation.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said voluntary evacuation advisories for Hesperia, Apple Valley and Summit Valley were lifted Thursday.

“We ask that residents returning to the evacuation zone please exercise caution,” the department said.

Roads that were closed will be opened as well, including Arrowhead Lake Road from Hesperia Lake to

‘We ask that residents returning to the evacuation zone please exercise caution.’ — San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department

Highway 173, Highway 173 from Highway 138 through Summit Valley, and Deep Creek Road from Rock Springs Road to the Spillway.

The Pacific Crest Trail will remain closed.

As firefighters gained the upper hand on the Pilot fire, details emerged on the cause of the deadly 2015 Valley fire in Northern California.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection released a report into the cause, which concluded that a hot tub’s faulty wiring had ignited one of California’s most destructive wildfires.

The Valley fire killed four people, seriously injured four firefighters and destroyed more than 1,300 homes, Cal Fire said.

At its peak, more than 4,000 firefighters battled the blaze, which cost nearly $57 million to extinguish.

Property owners John and Cindy Pinch of the Lake County town of Cobb are being investigated for possible criminal charges.

Mark Boster Los Angeles Times A FIREFIGHTER from Folsom, Calif., watches for Pilot fire hot spots near Silverwood Lake. The blaze has burned 7,899 acres and is 70% contained.