Wildfire Racing Across L.A. County
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: And we begin with a closer look at a fire that's racing across Los Angeles County at this hour. At least 200 firefighters on the scene there, Castaic, California, battling intense heat and billowing flames and smoke. To this point, 450 acres have been scorched. At least one building, described as something other than a home, has been engulfed in flames. CNN's Thelma Gutierrez with us live now from the scene to bring us up to date. This one started quickly and moved quickly, huh, Thelma?</s>THELMA GUTIERREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It sure did, Bill. In fact, the fire started about three hours ago. It moved very quickly. The winds have died down quite a bit and that has helped firefighters tremendously. Now, the fire is about a quarter of a mile away from me. There have been no evacuations, although there are ranches out in the distance. And I have been told that some of those residents have decided to evacuate on their own. A Fire Department spokesperson told us that this brush fire is right now burning out of control. The problem is that the winds have been kicking up, right now dying down a little bit. But the terrain is so dry. There is so much undergrowth. And all it takes is the ember and you end up with a real problem. Now, there are more than 200 firefighters fighting this blaze. It has been burning for about three hours right now, as we had mentioned. There are spot fires burning in several areas out here. So far 200 acres have been burned. The Fire Department has confirmed that one structure has been burned. It was an outbuilding of some sort, because this is ranch country. It was not a home that burned out here. The focus has been to try to keep in front of the fire. And so they have choppers making water drops out here to stay ahead of the fire. The engines have been mainly focused on staying near those homes to protect them. Again, no evacuations right now. Winds are dying down, and firefighters say that is very good news. Bill, back to you.</s>HEMMER: Thelma, quickly here. We were told earlier this evening that officials there in northern L.A. County were telling residents to stay inside their homes and they would come and get them. Has that pattern followed through with residents living there?</s>GUTIERREZ: We talked with some of the residents here just a short time ago and they told us that there was more concern earlier, but particularly deep in this canyon, where there are a few ranch homes, there are people who have horses -- that the animal control folks have come out, they have evacuated the animals. People have left on their own, but pretty much right now, with the winds dying down and temperatures cooling off, folks seem to be a little bit more -- or less concerned, I should say, out here.</s>HEMMER: All right. Thelma Gutierrez, we watched those flames all afternoon. Indeed, at times they looked very, very precarious. Live on the scene there in northern L.A. County, thanks to you.