Firefighters contain 40-acre blaze north of Los Angeles; voluntary evacuation order canceled

40-acre wildfire contained, homes safe north of LA

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — Firefighters have contained a 40-acre wildfire that briefly threatened about 50 homes north of Los Angeles.

LA County Fire Inspector Frederic Stowers says the fire in Santa Clarita was contained at about 4:30 p.m. Sunday, nearly three hours after it started.

Stowers says sheriff’s deputies knocked on about 50 doors giving voluntary evacuation orders before the fire moved north into the wilderness. About 150 firefighters and four water-dropping helicopters were assigned to the blaze.

Stowers said deputies arrested a man for interfering with firefighting operations, but he had no details.

There was no immediate word on the fire’s cause.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (AP) — Crews are protecting homes near a wildfire that has charred 25 acres of dry brush north of Los Angeles.

LA County Fire Inspector Frederic Stowers says the blaze briefly threatened houses in northern Santa Clarita before moving north away from neighborhoods and into the Los Padres National Forest.

Stowers says structures are no longer threatened but at least 50 homes are under a voluntary evacuation order. He says some residents are opting to leave so crews can focus on the fire and “not worry about saving people if need be.”

At least 150 firefighters from multiple agencies are at the scene, and four water-dropping helicopters are making runs over the blaze, which was reported around 2 p.m.

Stowers says crews are up against hot weather and wind gusts of up to 25 mph.

Santa Clarita is about 40 miles north of downtown Los Angeles.