Southern California Fires Threaten Homes and LA Zoo

The blaze also saw animals at the nearby Los Angeles Zoo being moved indoors to protect them from the heat and smoke.

Fire at Griffith Park in Los Angeles Photo courtesy: LA Fire

(LOS ANGELES) - Firefighters say that even though dozens of homes have been evacuated, they are making progress in their battle against a wildfire that is consuming the brush-covered hills near the city's historic Griffith Park Observatory.

So far one person has been injured and one home has been lost, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Many people recognize the popular Griffith Observatory from the film Rebel Without a Cause with James Dean, Sal Mineo and Natalie Wood.

By early Wednesday, the wildfire was reportedly blazing over Dante's View in the hills behind Griffith Observatory.

The blaze also saw animals at the nearby Los Angeles Zoo being moved indoors to protect them from the heat and smoke. There were no reports of injured animals.

Media sources report that helicopters flew dangerous overnight water-dropping missions over the fire, which helped fire crews laboring on the ground who have already achieved about 40 per cent containment. The temperature in LA today was 84 degrees in late afternoon with a swirling wind 2-4 MPH.

Griffith Park is a mix of wilderness, cultural sites, horse and hiking trails and recreational facilities set on more than 4,210 ares in the hills between Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley.

Park facilities including the Greek Theatre, Observatory and the Museum of the American West have been closed and guests were asked to leave. Crews at the Autry National Center say they threw tarps over the museum's western artifacts to protect them in case the sprinkler system goes off.

Nearby residents are encouraged to prepare for evacuation, monitor news radio and obey the verbal orders of uniformed public safety personnel in their neighborhood.

If you live in the afflicted area and need help, visit this link redcrossla.org

The fire is being attributed to a campsite just outside the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.