JULIAN, Calif. -- A wildfire that has been burning out of control since Monday in the mountains near Julian has destroyed at least five homes and five other structures and continues to threaten hundreds of other houses.

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National Guard Chopper May Have Started Pines Fire
Slideshow: Volcan Mountain Fire

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Fire Quickly Spreads Near Julian

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On Tuesday, authorities tripled the number of firefighters working the Pines Fire on Volcan Mountain northeast of Julian. About 1,750 firefighters from all over Southern California were on the fire lines. More than 13,000 acres of brush and forestland have burned and the flames continue to threaten the communities of Whispering Pines and Kentwood In The Pines.

Fire officials said about 300 mountain homes have been threatened. More than 500 residents have fled the area to several evacuation centers.

The fire was reported at about 2 p.m. on Monday and quickly spread up the mountain slope. Firefighters immediately attacked it with 85 engines, 11 helicopters, nine air tankers, six bulldozers and 31 fire crews, according to the California Department of Forestry. They tried to set up a fire line along Banner Grade, but the flames jumped the line near the Banner Queen trading post Monday night.

Officials have set up three evacuation centers for displaced residents. Red Cross volunteers are offering aid at Julian High School, 1656 Highway 78. Evacuees who cannot make it into Julian should go south to the Shelter Valley Community Center at 7217 Great Overland Rd. Red Cross officials opened a third evacuation center at Olive Peirce Middle School located at 1521 Hanson Lane in Ramona.

The San Diego Humane Society and an animal rescue unit also responded to the fire. They are taking rescued animals to a receiving area established at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park.

Fire officials said the flames were spreading to the south, and the town of Julian was not being threatened. As of Tuesday night, crews had a containment line around about 10 percent of the fire. They had no estimate on how long it would take to bring the fire under control.

Investigators have not determined what started the fire, but they said a helicopter might have been involved. A National Guard helicopter made a hard landing in the area, they said. It is possible that the landing somehow sparked the fire, they said.

Late in the afternoon, county Supervisor Dianne Jacob's office announced the creation of a relief fund for victims of the fire at Valley Independent Bank. Donors were asked to call (760) 370-3600.