Evacuations were downgraded and lifted Thursday afternoon for a brush fire in the West Hills that cast thick smoke over the area.
An immediate evacuation was issued for the fire burning near Valley Circle Boulevard and the 101 Freeway. Initially reported at 20 acres, it quickly expanded to 50 acres, and within 90 minutes it exploded to 791 acres, pushed by continuing Santa Ana winds.
There were no immediate reports of injuries or structural damage.
A mandatory evacuation order was issued for the people between Vanowen and Burbank Boulevard, from County Lane Road east to Valley Circle Boulevard, but shortly before 5:30 p.m., that mandatory order was reduced to an evacuation warning, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
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Evacuation warnings that were issued for the area bordered by Ingomar and Saticoy Streets south to Burbank Boulevard, from Valley Circle Boulevard east to Woodlake Avenue, were lifted.
By early evening, the fire had burned its way solely into Ventura County.
Water-dropping helicopters were making runs on the fire, one of six burning Thursday in Los Angeles County.
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