120-ACRE BRUSH FIRE DOUSED.

Byline: Daily News

ELIZABETH LAKE - Firefighters on the ground and in the air battled a brush fire that blackened 120 acres on Portal Ridge and halted it before it could destroy homes in the community of Elizabeth Lake.

Golfers at the Lake Elizabeth Golf Course kept up their game as the flames advanced over the brush-covered ridge separating the community from Quartz Hill.

Firefighters stopped the fire just short of Elizabeth Lake Road and the houses to the north of it, sparing the tiny church of St. Elizabeth Mission on Johnson Hill Road.

The fire was reported at 1 p.m. near 130th Street West south of Avenue J, on a hillside near the California Aqueduct. It was declared 90 percent contained by 3:30 p.m.

Officials said they were told people were seen leaving the area after the fire started.

A massive aerial effort included Los Angeles County's two leased Superscoooper aircraft, a heavy Skycrane and other helicopters, and at least three other U.S. Forest Service air tankers.

Bulldozers, fire engine crews and hand crews fought the flames on the ground.

Sheriff's deputies in patrol cars drove through the community of Elizabeth Lake warning through loudspeakers that people should be prepared to evacuate, but Palmdale sheriff's station officials said no mandatory evacuations were ordered.

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Photo:

(color) Firefighters battle a blaze Saturday as it gets to within 100 feet of Elizabeth Lake Road. The flames blackened 120 acres on Portal Ridge.

Paul Weatherman/Special to the Daily News