LOS ANGELES (AP) - The Latest on brush fires in California (all times local):
6:30 p.m.
Fire officials say a brush fire on a Los Angeles hillside above Brentwood was accidentally started by someone clearing brush with a weed trimmer.
The blaze in the Mandeville Canyon area above large upscale houses burned 30 acres and sent up a huge plume of smoke visible across much of the Los Angeles basin on Sunday.
More than 100 firefighters battled the blaze and it is at least 70 percent contained.
Five homes were evacuated when the fire started, but there have been no reports of damages.
Firefighters have also made gains on a brush house in the desert town of Mecca, southeast of Palm Springs, that chased about 50 people from their homes in an apartment complex.
Riverside County Fire officials say the fire burned 40 acres and is 50 percent contained.
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4:30 p.m.
Firefighters are gaining the upper hand on a 30-acre brush fire in a Los Angeles canyon near a winding road with large homes.
The blaze burning Sunday in the Mandeville Canyon area above Brentwood sent up a huge plume of smoke visible across much of the Los Angeles basin.
Fire officials say five homes were evacuated when the fire erupted, but there have been no reports of damages. More than 100 firefighters battled the fire amid hot weather with light winds.
Meanwhile, a brush fire in the desert town of Mecca southeast of Palm Springs has triggered the evacuation of an apartment complex.
Riverside County Fire officials say the fire has scorched about 40 acres and is 15 percent contained.
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2:45 p.m.
More than 100 firefighters with air support are battling a growing brush fire in a Los Angeles canyon near a winding road with large homes.
The blaze burning Sunday in the Mandeville Canyon area above Brentwood is sending up a huge plume of smoke visible across much of the Los Angeles basin.
Flames have scorched more than 15 acres of dry brush and officials say residents should be prepared to evacuate. Crews are contending with rugged terrain and hot weather with light winds. There is no containment.
To the northeast, firefighters are making progress against a blaze burning away from foothill homes in the Lake View Terrace neighborhood and into Angeles National Forest. That fire is 20 percent contained and resources are being diverted from there to the Brentwood blaze.
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1:25 p.m.
Ground crews getting help from water-dropping aircraft are battling two brush fires in Los Angeles.
A small blaze Sunday near large homes in the Mandeville Canyon area above Brentwood is sending up a huge plume of smoke visible for miles.
The fire has scorched about 4 acres of dry brush and officials say residents should be prepared to evacuate.
To the northeast, a 15-acre fire is burning away from foothill homes in the Lake View Terrace neighborhood and into Angeles National Forest.
City fire spokeswoman Margaret Stewart says crews are contending with rugged terrain and hot conditions.
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