SoCal fire sparked by downed power line

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 16 (UPI) -- A massive wildfire this week in Southern California was caused by a downed electrical distribution line that sent sparks onto dry brush, officials said.

Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said they had tracked the start of the Sesnon fire to the remote unincorporated area of Porter Ranch, the Los Angeles Times reported Thursday.

The Sesnon fire and another fire in the San Fernando Valley have destroyed at least 49 structures and blackened more than 18,000 acres.

"This is our top priority right now to put out these fires, even though we have our financial problems in the state," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said Wednesday. "We are not sparing one single dollar or dime."

The governor has declared states of emergency in San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Ventura counties.

Fire crews estimate they will have the Sesnon blaze fully contained by Saturday, said Nick Cerciello, a spokesman for the combined agencies fighting the blaze.