Fire crews fight brush fire that threatens homes in Antelope Valley [Updated]

Los Angeles County firefighters were battling a wind-driven brush fire that threatened homes Wednesday afternoon in the northeast Antelope Valley. 

The blaze, which was fanned by 15 mph winds, had scorched about 15 acres of brush near Palmdale Boulevard and 140th Street East in Lake Los Angeles, officials said.

Flames were about 1/4-mile from homes, and fire crews were dispatched to protect the structures as three helicopters made repeated water drops on the blaze, the Los Angeles County Fire Department said.

[Updated 5:46 p.m.: Fire crews have knocked down the blaze and were mopping up, the department said. No homes were damaged.]

The cause was under investigation.

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— Robert J. Lopez

Twitter: @LAJourno

Map shows general location of the brush fire. Credit: Times' Mapping L.A.