Crown Fire In L.A. Consumes 8,000 Acres 

NU Online News Service, July 30, 1:36 p.m. EDT

Three wildfires broke out yesterday afternoon in California, the worst of which has consumed 8,000 acres so far in Los Angeles County.

The worst of the fires, named the Crown Fire, started from a mechanic working on a car, said Pete Moraga, spokesman with the Insurance Information Network of California.

According to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection website, the Crown fire is located North of Sierra Highway at Anthony Road, southwest of Palmdale, and was only 5 percent contained as of 8 a.m. this morning local time.

The Los Angeles Times reported that 1,500 homes were threatened by the blaze last night, but the County of Los Angeles Fire Department website said all evacuations have been lifted.

Mr. Moraga said damage reports say four residential structures and seven other structures were destroyed. One home had extensive roof damage.

Extreme fire conditions were expected through the afternoon.

Firefighters gained on containing another major blaze, the West Fire in Kern County in Southern California. That fire is 46 percent contained and has claimed more than 1,600 acres. A total of 25 structures have been destroyed in that fire, according to the Kern County Fire Department website.

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