Max Fire in Lancaster burns several structures

Los Angeles County Fire crews battled a fast-moving brush fire in Lancaster that burned several structures and threatened about 1,000 homes, officials confirmed to KTLA.

Firefighters responded to reports of the “Max Fire,” a three-alarm fire believed to have started around 80 p.m.^th Street and Avenue K, around 3:45 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

Initial reports were of about two to three acres of brush fires, but they quickly grew to about 500 to 600 acres.

Aerial footage from Sky5 showed thick black smoke coming from a structure fire with a huge swath of charred earth leading directly toward the Lancaster neighborhood.

Fire officials said evacuations were being handled by the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department. While Sky5 was on top of the fire, deputies could be seen driving through the neighborhood trying to get the homeowners to leave.

A little before 6 p.m., firefighters on the ground and in the air appeared to have stopped the progression of the fire.

Sky5's Gil Leyvas reported that at least three structures, all buildings, were destroyed by the fire. It is unknown if any other structures were damaged.