Neighbors fight flames as Edgehill fire levels homes in San Bernardino

A fast-moving wildfire burned through a hillside community in San Bernardino on Monday afternoon, sending residents running and engulfing homes with black smoke and rippling, sky-high flames.

The Edgehill fire erupted in the 3300 block of Beverly Drive on Little Mountain about 2:40 p.m., according to San Bernardino County fire officials, who called for 10 additional engines immediately when they arrived, and reported at the time that the fire had already burned five acres.

Early reports said the fire grew to at least 100 acres. By about 6 p.m., county officials said that the forward progress of the fire had been stopped, and that the blaze was holding at 54 acres with 25% contained.

"At this point the fire is very much under control," according to a statement late Monday evening from the San Bernardino Police Department, which has been working closely with county fire officials.

Arson investigators are still assessing the scene to determine how the fire started. One person was detained for a few hours but has since been released, according to the police.

Dramatic videos from the scene show at least three homes consumed by fire, with residents rushing to leave their burning properties amid blackened, smoke-filled skies. One video circulating on social media shows a man hurrying as quickly as possible while cradling a large turkey that he had presumably saved from the raging fire.

Directly downwind of the burning homes, more than eight neighbors scrambled to help Martin and Sandra Schneider save their home from flying embers.

They could see the homes above them on the ridge completely aflame, and using whatever they could — garden hoses, rakes, buckets of water — they helped the Schneiders buy time while firefighters uphill called for additional backup.

"I’m grateful for the community coming together," Sandra Schneider said. "They were true heroes until the Fire Department came."

Temperatures in San Bernardino soared to more than 100 degrees on Monday. The National Weather Service issued an excessive heat warning for the area until 11 p.m. Tuesday, saying conditions would be dangerously hot, with the thermometer expected to reach 110 degrees.

Evacuation orders were issued to all residents south of Ridge Line Drive and north of Edgehill Road, west to and including Beverly Drive, and east to Circle Road. As of 9 p.m. Monday, authorities said the evacuation orders would remain in effect.

The Red Cross has set up an evacuation center and is providing overnight shelter at Cajon High School, at 1200 W. Hill Drive, for anyone affected by the fire.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times .