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Hundreds flee fire near L.A.
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- The threat of hot, dry Santa Ana winds forecast this weekend prompted authorities to evacuate hundreds of people as one of three untamed fires in Southern California threatened to block their only way out. More than 3,500 acres of the San Bernardino National Forest have been scorched since that fire started Tuesday, said Maria Daniels, a fire information officer for the blaze. The fire, which was 17 percent contained Thursday night, was not an immediate threat to homes in the Lytle Creek area, 55 miles east of Los Angeles. But firefighters didn't want the area's 1,000-plus residents to get trapped by the approaching flames, said Tricia Abbas, another fire spokeswoman. "The folks from Lytle Creek will continue to be evacuated from this area until we no longer have a threat of Santa Ana winds," Abbas said. "And we're expecting Santa Ana winds at this point through Sunday." The Red Cross set up a temporary shelter in Fontana. The fire, which authorities blamed on arson, was one of several that swept through Southern California this week, destroying five homes and chewing through nearly 11,000 acres.
Another fire near Piru in Ventura County was reported Thursday and charred about 522 acres, said Joe Luna, a spokesman for the county fire department. The fire was 50 percent contained late Thursday and was burning away from homes toward the Los Padres National Forest, Luna said. A cause had not been determined. At Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base, 50 miles north of San Diego, 1,100 firefighters were battling a 3,885-acre brush fire that was threatening 300 homes, fire officials said. Residents were asked to evacuate and a temporary shelter was set up by the Red Cross in Fallbrook. Fire officials said the fire started on a training range Tuesday, apparently sparked by ammunition used in military exercises, and was 35 percent contained. Firefighters have been unable to enter the southwestern area of the fire because it could be littered with unexploded ordnance, officials said. Officials had no estimate on full containment. In Riverside County, firefighters surrounded a 2,857-acre fire and allowed residents to return to Reche Canyon where several homes had been destroyed by flames.
The blaze, started by an arsonist Tuesday, damaged four homes, a barn, 21 outbuildings, a boat and several vehicles. Capt. Rick Vogt of the California Department of Forestry said Thursday night that the fire was completely contained. "Crews are in the mop up stage," Vogt said. "However, we're still concerned about the warm weather and Santa Ana winds predicted for this weekend." Officials said an arsonist started three fires to set the Riverside County blaze and were seeking information on a black pickup seen just before the wildfire erupted, Vogt said. Copyright 2003 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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