Extreme heat flared up the Lake Fire and forced additional evacuations in the Fairmont area Friday afternoon, but the new orders were later lifted, officials said.
The blaze had scorched 17,482 acres and was 12% contained as of 8 p.m. Friday. The flames have largely been burning in the Angeles National Forest, but several homes have been consumed and even more remained threatened Friday evening.
As of 9 p.m. Friday, evacuations put in place earlier in the evening were lifted for residents within the following perimeter, according to Los Angeles County fire officials:
- North of Avenue D/Highway 138
- South of Avenue A
- West of 150th Street West
- East of 200th Street West
Previous evacuation orders remain in place in Lake Hughes and surrounding areas. Updates on evacuation orders and road closures can be found on the Forest Service’s InciWeb Information Page.
Evacuation shelters have also been set up at Highland High School located at 39055 25th St. West in Palmdale, and at the Castaic Sports Complex at 31230 Castaic Road in Castaic.
A third shelter set up due to Friday’s new evacuations at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds was put on stand-by after those evacuations were lifted, the Red Cross said.
Assessment teams are working to determine the number of structures damaged in the fire. As of Thursday, at least three structures had been destroyed.
Around 3:30 p.m., Sky5 was overhead as rows of flames tore through hillsides, sending off huge plumes of smoke.
More than 1,100 firefighting personnel from the Angeles National Forest and Los Angeles County Fire Department are working together to battle the blaze.
Crews will be faced with an excessive heat warning from 11 a.m. Friday until 9 p.m. Monday. Afternoon temperatures are expected to approach 100 degrees near Lake Hughes.
The Lake Fire was first reported about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday near Lake Hughes just north of Warm Springs.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
