Pine Fire Forces Evacuations In Los Angeles County

LLANO, CA — A wind-driven brush fire in the Antelope Valley triggered evacuations and threatened several structures Wednesday afternoon.

Within hours, the blaze dubbed the Pine Fire ballooned to more than 450 acres, as firefighters with the Los Angeles County Fire Department, CalFire, and the Angeles National Forest called in ground and aircrews to battle the braze near the Llano area, east of Palmdale. It was 15% contained as of about 9 p.m. and its progress has been stopped, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

The Pine Fire erupted for unknown reasons about 1:30 p.m. in a sparsely populated area near the Antelope (138) Highway and 248th Street East, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Mandatory evacuation orders were issued about 3:35 p.m. 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 to the fire, 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. At least one structure near the fire's point of origin was destroyed, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Additional damage inspections were ongoing.

About 500 firefighters were fighting the flames, with help from three water-dropping helicopters and two air tankers.

Winds about 6 to 10 mph, with 23- to 26-mph gusts, coupled with low humidity, were expected in the area into the evening, according to the National Weather Service.

The cause of the fire was under investigation.

City News Service contributed to this report.