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LA fire threatens homes
12/10/2008 21:49 - (SA)
Los Angeles - A wildfire burned up to 300ha of forest north of Los Angeles on Sunday, threatening hundreds of homes and an animal sanctuary, authorities said.
The blaze began at about 02:00 in a rugged area about 30km north of downtown Los Angeles, fire officials said. About 400 firefighters were on the scene at Angeles National Forest, aided by aerial strike teams, said Los Angeles County fire inspector Sam Padilla.
One residence and three motor homes were destroyed. A garage and several sheds also burned.
About 1 200 people were evacuated from two canyons as the blaze brushed up against some of the area's 450 homes and moved southeast toward city limits, said US Forest Service spokesperson Stanton Florea.
"It burned right down to a couple of neighbourhoods," Florea said. It wasn't immediately known whether any homes had been damaged. Television images showed a trail of flames and heavy smoke on a pair of ridges littered with dry brush.
The fire was south of the Wildlife Waystation, an animal sanctuary and rehabilitation facility set on 64ha.
The non-profit agency houses more than 400 animals, including lions, bears and deer. Officials were loading up the animals in case the fire switched direction.
- AP
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