Dozens flee as wildfires rage in California desert

YUCCA VALLEY, Calif. (AP) – Firefighters evacuated dozens of homes Wednesday as a wildfire raced across 26,000 acres of desert and destroyed 30 homes and buildings in an area where Gene Autrey, Roy Rogers, and others filmed Hollywood Westerns.

Historic buildings in the Old West movie set area of Pioneertown had been spared, but several other structures were destroyed, fire officials said Wednesday.

Wind exceeding 40 mph fanned the flames, and officials said they didn’t expect the weather to change any time soon.

Dozens were evacuated Wednesday from communities in Little Morongo Canyon and Burns Canyon. As many as 1,000 people fled the flames Tuesday, authorities said. Firefighters had no estimate Wednesday of when they might have the blaze under control.

“If we have more of the same with the high winds and high temperatures it could be trouble,” said California Department of Forestry Capt. Marc DeRosier.

The blaze burned through historic Pioneertown, destroying at least 30 homes and some of the less-historic buildings there and in surrounding towns, said state Department of Forestry Capt. Marc DeRosier.

“You lay down but you can’t sleep,” said Barbara Greenbush, 40, standing atop her father’s tool shed with a pair of binoculars. “When it hits that little ridge over there, and those houses go, that’s it, we’re outta here.”

Pioneertown; about two hours east of Los Angeles was host to Roy Rogers, Russ “Lucky” Hayden and other Hollywood cowboys who helped establish the desert hideaway in 1946.

Gene Autrey filmed “Last of the Pony Riders” and “Indian Territory” in Pioneertown. Hayden, who played the sidekick in the “Hopalong Cassidy” movies, used it for his “Judge Roy Bean” TV series, and “Cisco Kid” producers shot several movies and the TV series there.

By the 1960’s the town had become more of a residential community, although film-makers began returning a few years ago. Car companies have filmed commercials in Pioneertown in recent years. Music videos have also been made there.

Investigators believe lightning started the fire during the weekend. About 2,500 firefighters aided by 13 helicopters and eight air tankers were working the blaze. DeRosier said the force would be expanded.

Elsewhere in the West, Montana firefighters were trying to control a blaze about 40 miles west of Billings that had destroyed at least four structures, including two homes officials said. No injuries were reported.

Godfrey V. Wickware of Lucerne Valley, chairman of the newly found mountain-desert highway improvement committee and spokesman for the group, told supervisors that the project would involve surfacing approximately 80 miles of road and would cost an estimated $300,000 to $400,000.

Attract Tourists
The present condition of the road forces residents of the Twentynine Palms and adjacent desert areas who wish to go to the mountain resort to drive many miles out of their way. Mr. Wickware stated. He pointed out that improvement of the thoroughfare would also attract many tourists over the back route to the San Bernardino mountains, a route that he termed “one of the most scenic in the country.”

LT. Col. R. B. Warye, representing them Marine corps storage and repair depot in Barstow, told supervisors that surfacing of the road from Barstow to Lucerne Valley would mean a four hour reduction in time needed to move Marine firefighting equipment to the mountain area and a two hour reduction in the transportation of men to combat any blazes.

Funds Allocated
Board Chairman Frank H mobile pointed out that any improvement of the road will be impossible.

For the current fiscal year since highway funds have already been allocated but that servicing of portions of the thoroughfare might be included in future highway budgets. Delegates include E.F. Manners president of the Barstow chamber of commerce; Dick Curtis president of Pioneertown; E.N. Haley of Big Bear Lake; William E. Miller of Lucerne Valley; H.B. Sherman of 29 palms; lieutenant Colonel Warye and Mr. Wickware.