Photos: The Pilot fire in San Bernardino County

A picnic area is covered with pink fire retardant at the Morongo River Forks National Park as dark smoke fills the horizon from the Pilot fire southeast of Hesperia.

The Pilot fire flares up late in the afternoon southeast of Hesperia.

A hot and tired fire crew from Folsom marches back to the base after watching for hot spots at the Pilot fire near Silverwood Lake.

The landscape off Highway 173 is still smoldering after the Pilot fire near Silverwood Lake scorched over 9,000 acres since Sunday afternoon.

The rocks and terrain at the Mojave River Forks Regional Park are stained a bright pink from the fire retardant dropped during the aerial assault on the Pilot fire near Silverwood Lake.

Folsom firefighter Aaron Hill watches for hot spots at the Pilot fire near Silverwood Lake while fixed-wing tankers continue to deliver fire retardant on the ridgelines.

The Pilot fire has grown to 6,963 acres with 6% containment. The aerial assault continues Tuesday morning.

The leaves and terrain at the Mojave River Forks Regional Park are stained a bright pink from the fire retardant dropped during the aerial assault at the Pilot fire near Silverwood Lake.

A cameraman gets his shot while flames jump Highway 173 and erupt in a previously unburnt area near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County.

Running Springs firefighters check out the Pilot fire burning in the mountains of San Bernardino County.

Charred branches and scorched earth are all that remain after a wildfire rolled through the terrain off Highway 173 near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County.

Residents watch as the Pilot fire rages through the Summit Valley on Monday.

A firefighting helicopter drops water on a hot spot off Highway 173 near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County on Monday.

Ryan Nuckols watches the Pilot fire burn through the Summit Valley on Monday.

An air tanker sprays fire retardant to prevent the Pilot fire from burning beyhond the Summit Valley on Monday.

Fort Irwin firefighters work to prevent the Pilot fire from spreading through the Summit Valley on Monday.

Firefighters drive through an area completely burned as the Pilot fire swept through an area off Highway 173 near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County on Monday.

Firefighters attack the Pilot fire off Highway 173 near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County on Monday.

Burned power poles dangle in the breeze after fire swept through an area near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County on Monday.

An air tanker drops fire retardant on the Pilot fire on Monday.  (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times)

A firefighting helicopter drops a load of water on a hotspot near Silverwood Lake in San Bernardino County on Monday.

The Pilot fire burns on Monday.