Lake fire has some people in the Hi-Desert experiencing Deja Vu

The “Lake Fire” is now 25 square miles, burning in the San Bernardino Mountains, inching closer to the high desert.

Firefighters continue to battle in rough terrain and high temperatures. The fire is currently 15 percent contained.

People in the Hi-Desert area blanketed with smoke – are understandably getting concerned.

Many residents remember the 2006 Sawtooth and Mallard fires that devastated the area.

Cal Fire is staging equipment and resources in the area to ease their concerns.

Some locals said it is reassuring because the fires in the past have caught people off guard.

“My particular property — it burned 20 of our 22 acres and we lost a lot of vegetation, probably 200 Joshua trees, Pinyon pines, Junipers,” said Max Thomas, who lives in Pioneertown.

Representatives from Cal Fire and the U.S. Forest Service set up an information post in Pioneertown with the latest on the Lake Fire.

It is a welcome sight for those who are worried.

“I would probably venture to guess about 85 percent of the folks that stopped here, and we’ve been able to talk to, lost their homes in the Sawtooth fire,” said Chon Bribiescas, public information officer forthe U.S. Forest Service.

Officials said as of Sunday there are no evacuation orders, but they are not taking any chances.

“The 10 Cal Fire trucks that are in the area are two strike teams and that’s part of a contingency plan. Again, because we do have this large fire going on but also because we’re barely into June and we have record heat, everything is lined up and ready to go,” Bribiescas said.

Pioneertown area is well over 12 miles away from the current fire. Officials said the area has a lot less fuel for the fire, which would move slower if it did wind up reaching that far.

Firefighters feel confident the fire will not reach the Hi-Desert area, but said people still need to be ready to evacuate.

“It’s a good reminder for them to organize the things that are important to them their important paper, prescription medicine, glasses, photographs, things that they’re going to need,” Bribiescas said.

After the effects of the Sawtooth and Mallard fires, locals are heeding their warning.

“Maybe this time we won’t wait till the last minute to get ready, because the last one kind of caught us off guard because it came up so fast,” said Brian Shaw, who lives in Pioneertown.

Thomas is just glad he has a heads up this time.

“I come out everyday and ask for an updates. I know we have websites to go to but these folks are incredibly helpful,” Thomas said.

Bribiescas said the area should not be seeing fires like this in June.

But because of severe drought and the Bark Beetle, the trees that should normally still be wet are dry, and make ideal fuel for fire.