Pine Fire 40% Contained At 450 Acres

LLANO, CA — Firefighters Thursday continued to battle a wind-whipped brush dubbed the Pine Fire in the Antelope Valley.

By Thursday afternoon, the blaze was held to 450 acres and 30 percent containment, according to CalFire. The fast-moving blaze broke out Wednesday, forcing evacuations and destroying at least two structures.

The fire in a sparsely populated rural area east of Palmdale erupted at about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday near Antelope Highway and 248th Street East in Llano.

"Crews are on the line working to strengthen containment lines and handle hot spots within the perimeter of the fire," the os Angeles County Fire Department reported.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued about 3:35 p.m. Wednesday for Antelope Highway to Pine View Road and Buchanan Road to Smoke Tree Road. About 100 homes were evacuated, according to CalFire.

Evacuation orders were lifted for most areas Wednesday evening, though they were still in effect for a small number of homes west of Jubilee Road.

The Los Angeles County Department of Animal Care and Control announced shelter was available for evacuated livestock at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds and for companion animals at the Palmdale Animal Care Center.

Antelope Highway was closed between 263rd Street and Oasis Road to all except residents due, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.

The flames were driven eastward toward Pinon Hills and Phelan by winds blowing at about 18 mph, according to reports from the scene.

Two structures were damaged or destroyed. Additional damage inspections were ongoing.

About 500 firefighters were assigned to the firefighting effort, along with three water-dropping helicopters and two air tankers.

The cause remained under investigation.

City News Service and Patch Staffer Paige Austin contributed to this report.