Wildfire scorches hundreds of acres in eastern California

LONE PINE, Calif. (AP) — A wildfire has scorched hundreds of acres in the Owens Valley below the eastern flank of the Sierra Nevada and disrupted traffic on U.S. 395.

Cal Fire says the blaze erupted near Lone Pine late Thursday morning and grew to 1.6 square miles (4.1 square kilometers) by evening, when fire activity lessened but winds remained a concern.

For a time, Caltrans had to close the highway from Manzanar to Lone Pine and no detour was available. Traffic flow resumed under California Highway Patrol escort until the route was reopened after 5 p.m.

In northern Los Angeles County, firefighters stopped a wildfire that spread over 8 acres in the western Antelope Valley.