Calif. firefighters work to contain blazes

LOS ANGELES, July 14 (UPI) -- Wildfires in the Angeles National Forest and at Camp Pendleton near San Diego were 50 percent contained, officials in fire-prone California areas said Tuesday.

The fires didn't threaten any structures, but state fire officials said the blazes, coupled with other fires in recent weeks, should put residents on alert about the dangers, the Los Angeles Times reported Tuesday.

The three largest fires in the Angeles National Forest started within the last two weeks, officials said.

The danger level for the forest was raised Sunday from high to very high, Angeles National Forest spokeswoman Dee Dechert said.

"This is just letting the public know it's getting bad," Dechert said.

The Ostio fire, the larger of the two fires that began Monday, scorched about 400 acres in the Angeles National Forest near Pyramid Lake, officials said.

"It's still hot and dry out there," Dechert said "No nasty winds to speak of, but it's the heat that's going to affect the fire behavior and the firefighters."

Officials said they don't know what caused the fire.

At Camp Pendleton north of San Diego, a brush fire burned 1,300 acres, the Times said. Officials said no structures were threatened at the Marine Corps base and no evacuations were ordered.

Officials said the Camp Pendleton fire also was 50 percent contained late Monday.