AGUA DULCE (CNS) - A fire that broke out early this afternoon in the Agua Dulce area quickly scorched several hundred acres of brush, prompting evacuations, according to county fire officials.
Dubbed the ``Stone Fire,'' the blaze was reported around 12:30 p.m. Monday 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.
Two hours after the fire broke out, it had scorched 200-500 acres and some outbuildings were threatened, officials said. There was no word on what sparked the flames.
The sheriff's department was assisting firefighters with evacuations of residents along Anthony Road north of Sierra Highway, though it was not immediately clear how many people were affected. Animal control officials were also dispatched to the area to assist with evacuations of horses and other animals in the rural area.
About 240 personnel were on scene, and several helicopters and a fixed- wing aircraft were deployed. The flames were burning in medium brush in the sparsely populated area.
According to the National Weather Service, nearby Acton this afternoon was reporting 97 degrees and relative humidity of 11 percent, with west winds gusting 20 mph.