A fire that broke out early Monday afternoon in the Agua Dulce area quickly scorched close to 1,000 acres of brush, prompting evacuations and road closures.
Dubbed the “Stone Fire,” the blaze was reported around 12:30 p.m. near the 35100 block of Anthony Road and went to a third alarm by 1 p.m., according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
By early Monday evening, the fire had scorched about 950 acres and was 15 percent contained, a fire department inspector said.
Mandatory evacuations affecting nine homes were announced, but no injuries or structural damage was reported.
There was no word on what sparked the flames.
Mandatory evacuations were in effect for Anthony, Hierba and Bass Rock roads, as well as Beauty Vista Lanes, all north of Sierra Highway, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, though it was unclear how many people were affected.
Anthony Road was closed north of Sierra Highway, which itself was closed between Wyse Road and Sierra Vista Drive, the sheriff’s department reported.
Officials also said Hierba and Bass Rock roads were closed at Sierra Highway.
At one point, some outbuildings and homes were threatened and the sheriff’s department assisted firefighters with evacuations of residents along Anthony Road north of Sierra Highway.
About 350 personnel were on scene at one point, and several helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft, including four air tankers, were deployed. The flames were burning in medium brush in the sparsely populated, rural area.
Animal control officials were dispatched to the area to assist with evacuations of horses and other animals.
The county Department of Animal Care and Control advised that horses and other large animals could be brought to the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds at West Avenue H in Lancaster and dogs, cats and other small pets to the Castaic Animal Care Center at 31044 N. Charlie Canyon Road or the Palmdale Animal Care Center at 38550 Sierra Highway.
According to the National Weather Service, temperatures were cooling as evening approached.
By about 8 p.m., it was 87 degrees in nearby Acton with relative humidity of 22 percent, though west winds were holding steady with gusts near 20 mph.
Soon after the fire broke out, the temperature was closer to 100 degrees with relative humidity of 11 percent.