2nd Santa Clarita Brush Fire Contained

A brush fire sparked by a burning car in Santa Clarita was fully contained Wednesday morning after charring more than 60 acres and threatening homes, authorities said.

And on the third consecutive day of brush fires in northern Los Angeles County, two new fires burned 12 acres near the Golden State Freeway and Smokey Bear Road, north of Pyramid Lake, a Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman said. Two lanes of the freeway were closed for a short time while firefighters put out the flames, authorities said.

The blaze in Santa Clarita, the second there in two days, began Tuesday when three men driving north on the Golden State Freeway stopped on the shoulder near Calgrove Boulevard because of car trouble, California Highway Patrol Sgt. Andrew Hernandez said.

“The vehicle caught fire and the winds carried the fire to the nearby shrubbery and right through the canyon,” Hernandez said.

Freeway traffic was backed up for hours, and firefighters asked dozens of residents to voluntarily evacuate the area, though no homes were damaged, officials said.

A fire Monday near the Antelope Valley Freeway in Santa Clarita burned 300 acres, destroyed one residence and damaged several backyards before it was contained, county Fire Capt. Brian Jordan said.

The blaze was caused by a discarded cigarette, Jordan said, adding that an investigation is underway to determine whether the fire had been set.

Jordan said that because of hot and dry conditions, 25 additional firefighters have been stationed in Santa Clarita.

“Until we get rain, we’re expecting fires,” he said.