Officials ordered additional evacuations Friday evening as the Lake fire saw an increase in activity and continued to pose a threat to residents.
The new evacuations in the Antelope Valley region encompass the area north of Avenue D and Highway 138, south of Avenue A, west of 150th Street West and east of 200th Street West.
“If we can’t hold the fire … that’s the highest probability of where the wildfire might be driven,” said Kenichi Haskett, a public information officer with the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
The Lake fire began in the Angeles National Forest near the 5 Freeway on Wednesday. Within hours it had quickly scorched 10,500 acres as it raced west toward the 5 and northeast toward residents in Pine Canyon in the Antelope Valley, triggering evacuations and burning three buildings.
The Lake fire burns in the hills of the Angeles National Forest on Friday.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
By Friday night, the fire had grown to more than 17,400 acres and was 12% contained. It has destroyed at least five structures, and more than 5,000 others were threatened.
Evacuations had previously been in place for Lake Hughes Road west of Pine Canyon and north of Dry Gulch Road, as well as for residents east of Ridge Route Road, west of Lake Hughes Road and Fire Station 78, north of Pine Canyon and Lake Hughes Road, and south of Highway 138.
Fighting the fire has been difficult because of rugged terrain and thick vegetation that in some areas hasn’t burned in several decades. More than 1,150 personnel, 162 engines and several helicopters have responded to the blaze.
Times staff writer Luke Money contributed to this report.
