Mt. Baldy fire grows to 100 acres - EVACUATION Centre set up in MOUNT BALDY Elementary School

A brush fire west of Mt. Baldy Village has grown to 100 acres, but no homes are in immediate danger and no one has been injured, fire officials said this morning.
More than 200 firefighters and five water-dropping helicopters are battling the Big Horn Fire, which is burning in steep terrain and being pushed by 20 to 30 mph winds.

At 10:45 a.m., the fire has moving west and the winds were shifting, said Stacey Martinez, a spokeswoman for the San Bernardino County Fire Department.

"The winds are erratic in that area," she said.

Angeles Forest spokesman Stanton Florea said the fire is "moving very slowly" toward three or four homes in Bear Canyon. Residents said there are 30 to 40 homes in the area.

Bear Canyon resident Gabriel Jimenez said he was evacuated from his home about 5 this morning. He said he could see flames from his window and that 10 other homes had been evacuated.

"I don't think it's going to be too bad," Jimenez said.

Fire officials closed Mt. Baldy Road at its intersection with Shinn Road and only residents are permitted beyond that point.

Mt. Baldy Village was not evacuated as previously reported, but residents stood outside their homes watching the blaze.

"The Mt. Baldy Village community, at this time, is not considered threatened," said Los Angeles County fire Inspector Frank Garrido.

Two hikers, described by sheriff's officials as a female and her father, called Pomona police about 7:30 a.m. when they became stranded by the blaze.
The call was transferred to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

"They stated they were exhausted and unsure where to go," said sheriff's spokeswoman Cindy Beavers. "They could see helicopters but were not able to get their attention."

Sheriff's officials sent a helicopter with a hoist to the area to help the hikers. It is not known if they found the hikers.

An evacuation center was set up at Mt. Baldy Elementary School.