By Francisco Vara-Orta
The Los Angeles Times

LANCASTER, Calif. — Crews on Monday were in the final stretch of battling a weekend brush fire in the Angeles National Forest near Lancaster that has shut down part of San Francisquito Canyon Road near Green Valley, authorities said.

The South fire was reported at 12:11 p.m. Sunday near San Francisquito Canyon Road, west of Spunky Canyon Road, said forest spokeswoman Lisa Lugo.

The fire is centered in a canyon southwest of the small town of Green Valley, about 25 miles from Lancaster.

As of Monday evening, the fire — which charred about 135 acres — was 91% contained, with 559 firefighters working on the scene, the U.S. Forest Service reported.

"The fire's not doing much today — no active flame fronts," said forest spokesman Robert Brady. "It's looking pretty good thus far."

Crews were using water-dropping aircraft to battle the wildfire, which has burned in a very steep and rugged area of the forest.

The closure of San Francisquito Canyon Road extended from just north of Santa Clarita to the area just below Green Valley.

No structures were threatened and no injuries reported, Brady said.

Arson investigators were trying to determine the cause of the fire, a Los Angeles County Fire Department dispatcher said.

Full containment is expected today, Brady said.

Copyright 2008 Los Angeles Times
All Rights Reserved