An engine fire in a pickup truck spread to surrounding desert grassland in Hesperia at 11:19 a.m. Wednesday, July 11, but aggressive action by over 75 firefighters held the fire to seven acres and saved nearby homes.

About 30 homes in the Oak Ridge Estates neighborhood were evacuated until the fire was contained at about 1:10 p.m. The fire began at Farmington Street and Mariposa Road, Hesperia, next to I-15.

The pickup truck’s driver received first- and second-degree burns to his face and hands when he opened the hood to investigate smoke coming from the truck’s engine. The fire quickly spread from the engine to the adjacent dry brush. The driver was airlifted by Mercy Air to Arrowhead Regional Medical Center for treatment.

The firefighters received assistance from a County Fire bulldozer and a water-dropping helicopter from the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department.

While the fire did not damage any homes, some embers flew into a back yard, where they were quickly extinguished.

The pickup truck’s driver told County Fire investigators he was looking for a site where he had done some work a few days ago when he became lost. The truck had become stuck in the sand when the engine caught fire.

The fire caused slowing on I-15, but the highway was not otherwise affected.

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