Firefighters Battle Brush Fire South of Palmdale; Evacuations Ordered

PALMDALE, CA — Firefighters were battling a large brush fire Saturday on a hillside between the northbound Antelope Valley (14) Freeway and Pearblossom Highway (134) in the Acton community south of Palmdale, prompting some evacuation orders.

The Lemon Fire was first reported at 2:11 p.m. Saturday, according to the California Highway Patrol. A second alarm was requested at 2:44 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.

About 4:50 p.m., the fire had grown to 190 acres but was 22% contained.

It grew quickly during the afternoon. At 3:35 p.m., officials reported the fire had consumed about 60 acres and said an evacuation order had been issued for two communities next to the Pearblossom Highway. By 4 p.m., the fire had consumed 167 acres.

Air tankers and helicopters from the Angeles National Forest joined in the fight and CALFIRE aircraft reloaded retardant at the forest's Fox Field.

Temperatures in Palmdale were in the low 90s on Saturday.

City News Service, Inc.