Southern California brush fire threatens expensive homes

A smoky brush fire threatened a tract of expensive homes Wednesday in Burbank, north of Los Angeles, as a heat wave continued to bear down on Southern California.

At press time, about 10 acres had been consumed in the hills near Burbank Airport. Evacuation orders were issued for more than 50 homes, but the blaze was held to about 10 acres and is now 80 percent contained, The Associated Press reported.

Burbank is known as the home of major studios, including Walt Disney and NBC.

Dozens of firefighters, helped by hand crews and water-dropping helicopters, fought the fire. Evacuations were underway.

The fire burned in thick brush that had become bone dry despite a wet winter, which broke the drought that had gripped much of California for the past several years. The area is occupied by large hillside homes, some with swimming pools and tennis courts.

Meanwhile, crews are trying to corral a 1,600-acre fire in Central California that destroyed the home of Big Bang Theory star Johnny Galecki.

Two other buildings burned in San Luis Obispo County, where the fire is 65 percent contained after scorching 2 ½ -square miles of grass and 12-foot-high chaparral.

East of Los Angeles, a nearly 10-square-mile fire near Beaumont is 43 percent contained.

(USATODAY)