15 Lightning-Sparked Wildfires Erupt Near L.A.

LOS ANGELES – Officials say lightning strikes have started at least 15 new wildfires in the Angeles National Forest.

U.S. Forest Service spokesman Stanton Florea says lightning struck about 400 times Wednesday in the higher, remote regions of the forest north of Los Angeles.

He says none of the fires are near any structures or communities and are burning in rugged terrain. Firefighters were able to quickly contain many of them.

Florea says with more lightning possible, fire officials will fly over the forest Thursday morning looking for new blazes.

He says the damp weather is keeping the fires tame, but if sun and heat return before all the fires are out it could mean trouble.