News and Society

GLENDORA, Calif. September 3, 2012 (AP)

A fast-spreading fire has erupted in Los Padres National Forest in Ventura County.

A plume of smoke rises from the San Gabriel Canyon area of the Angeles National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains northeast of Los Angeles on Sunday, Sept, 2, 2012. A wildfire that broke out in the Angeles National Forest on Sunday forced the evacuation of thousands of visitors and sent a huge cloud of smoke that could be seen from throughout the Los Angeles basin. (AP Photo/John Antczak) Close

The Ventura County Fire Department says the blaze broke out about 11 a.m. Monday and quickly charred 25 acres of rugged, mountaintop terrain in the Lockwood Valley area. No structures were immediately threatened.

Ventura called out 18 firefighting units to the scene to try to contain the blaze.

Billowing smoke could be seen for miles in the distance.

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