Fire crews rushed to battle two fast-growing brush fires in northern Los Angeles County on Thursday — the King fire, which ignited near Pyramid Lake in the early morning, and the Hawk fire, which erupted in Acton around 3 p.m., threatening structures and prompting evacuation orders.

The wind-whipped Hawk fire began near Treman Drive and Elisa Road in the hills of Acton and spread to nearly 300 acres within two hours, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Evacuation orders were issued in the community of Mission and the Ritter Ranch area, while warnings were in place in parts of Mission, Boiling Point, Lakeview and Palmdale.

Meanwhile, crews continued to combat the 577-acre King fire, which began just after 1 a.m. east of the 5 Freeway near Smokey Bear Road and north of Pyramid Lake, according to Cal Fire. They started to get a handle on the blaze in the afternoon, reporting 20% containment at 1 p.m.

Officials said the fire grew dangerously fast early Thursday, when winds were gusting at almost 30 mph, pushing the blaze south toward Vista Del Lago Road, according to the update. Flames threatened to jump the 5 Freeway several times, which spurred officials to temporarily close all lanes of the freeway at least twice.

After flames spread dramatically around the 5 Freeway near Gorman early Thursday, destroying two unoccupied RVs, firefighters started to get a handle on the King fire by the afternoon.

Evacuation warnings were issued for areas around Hungry Valley, Paradise Ranch and Gorman. A shelter-in-place order was issued for the Pyramid Lake RV Park. Two northbound lanes of the 5 Freeway remained closed between Smokey Bear and Vista Del Lago roads for the emergency response, and motorists were warned to expect delays.

  • Share via Close extra sharing options

The King fire sparked amid elevated fire conditions, with afternoon winds expected to hit up to 20 mph across the already parched chaparral-covered hills, according to the National Weather Service.

Temperatures around the fire were expected to reach into the low 90s Thursday, and relative humidity was forecast to drop below 20%, said Bryan Lewis, a meteorologist with the weather service based in Oxnard.

Fire trucks on Thursday lined the freeway’s closed northbound lanes as helicopters overhead continued with water and retardant drops.

Times staff writer Joseph Serna contributed to this report.