FIRE SEASON ARRIVES IN FORCE AS 3 BLAZES SCORCH 20 ACRES.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

As the summer fire season began, firefighters were kept busy Tuesday battling at least three brush fires that broke out throughout the Antelope Valley but blackened only about 20 acres, officials said.

The first of the fires broke out about 11 a.m. on the valley's west side, blackening about three acres in a sparsely populated area off Highway 138 three miles east of Three Points Road.

While it took firefighters close to 30 minutes get to the scene, they were assisted by calm winds that stabilized the blaze and stopped it from spreading too fast, officials said.

``If the winds were like yesterday, it would have gone a long way,'' said Los Angeles Fire Capt. Bill Glancy. ``We were lucky.''

Sixty firefighters, 20 firetrucks and two helicopters took about 30 minutes to contain the blaze, which was started by a spark from a vehicle, fire officials said.

Their efforts saved a barn, a chicken coop, a bunkhouse, pig pens and a house on a ranch that was first settled 140 years ago, said Ken Weaver, 61, who recently acquired the land.

``I was planning to restore the buildings back to their original condition,'' Weaver said. ``This really scared me. If they would have burned down, they wouldn't be worth anything. I was really lucky.''

Also Tuesday, the U.S. Forest Service announced that it was imposing fire restrictions immediately in the Angeles National Forest, earlier than usual.

No open campfires and no smoking are allowed outside developed recreation sites. Fireworks are prohibited.

Portable stoves with gas, jellied petroleum or pressurized liquid fuel are allowed outside of developed recreation sites only with a California campfire permit.

California campfire permits, which are required year-round on national forest land, are free and can be obtained at any U.S. Forest Service or U.S. Bureau of Land Management office.

For more information about the Angeles National Forest, call [phone].

Tuesday's other Antelope Valley fires included 15 acres of light brush and grass burned at 100th Street West and Avenue B-2.

Light winds fanned the blaze, but firefighters were able to control it within minutes, officials said.

In another fire, at 3:38 p.m., a short circuit on a power pole ignited grass and trash at the 32200 block of Agua Dulce Canyon Road. About half an acre burned.

Kern County firefighters also tackled a one-acre brush fire off Highway 58 just east of Mojave. Firefighters believe children playing with matches were responsible.