Cool temperatures and decreased wind speeds allowed firefighters to gain ground on a wildfire that began Wednesday near near the 5 Freeway north of Los Angeles and forced evacuations and a school closure.
Containment was at 25 percent Thursday evening after the fast-moving fire scorched trees and brush west of the 5 Freeway Wednesday afternoon. The fire burned 3,800 acres, according to a 6:30 p.m. update from fire officials.
The fire burned about 2,000 acres in under three hours and continued moderate spread in "very steep and hilly" throughout the afternoon. Six water-dropping helicopters and seven air tankers helped ground crews slow the fire's advance.
No structures were threatened. Falcon Way to Frazier Mountain High School and roads entering Hungry Valley State Park and Piru Creek are closed.
Strong winds pushed the fire, which was reported at 1:20 p.m., south and east toward the Hungry Valley State Recreation Area and Gorman Tuesday. Flames eventually spread into portions of three counties -- Kern, Ventura and Los Angeles.
The Hungry Valley State Vehicular Recreation Area and Piru Creek Campground remained under a mandatory evacuation order. Frazier Mountain High School in Lebec was evacuated, and the school will be closed Wednesday, according to the El Tejon Unified School District.
Frazier Park School, Pine Mountain Learning Center and El Tejon School are expected to be open Thursday, according to the district's web site.
Authorities have not determined a cause of the blaze, which was burning about 70 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles, south of the Grapevine that links the metropolitan area to the Central Valley.
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