Officials ordered additional evacuations Friday night as the Sea Fire saw an increase in activity and continued to pose a threat to residents.
The new evacuations in the Antelope Valley region include 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 keep the fire going … that’s the worst chance of the wildfire going out,” said Kenichi Haskett, a public information officer at the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
The Lake fire started Wednesday in the Angeles National Forest near the 5 Freeway. Within hours, it had burned nearly 10,500 acres as it headed west toward the 5 and northeast toward residents in Pine Canyon in the Antelope Valley, causing evacuations and burning three buildings.
The Lake fire burns Friday in the hills of the Angeles National Forest.
(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 were previously 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 due to rough terrain and thick vegetation that has not burned in some areas for several decades. More than 1,150 personnel, 162 engines and several helicopters responded to the blaze.
Times staff writer Luke Money contributed to this report.
