The Latest: Crews make progress on Southern California fire

BIG SUR, Calif. – The Latest on wildfires burning in the West (all times local):

7:52 a.m.

Firefighters are making significant progress against a fire that scorched nearly 61 square miles in northern Los Angeles County.

The fire command says the blaze is 85 per cent contained Friday, eight days after it broke out in a semi-rural area of suburban Santa Clarita and spread into the mountainous Angeles National Forest.

Firefighters continue to work on cutting a line around the fire, perform mop-up activities and withdraw excess equipment.

The east side is in a deep drainage and officials caution that if winds align with that feature the fire potentially could enter heavy vegetation.

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7:25 a.m.

Firefighters gained a little ground on a wildfire burning along California’s Big Sur coastline Friday.

The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says the fire has now spanned 46 square miles (119 square kilometres) and is 15 per cent contained.

It has destroyed at least 41 homes and put at least 2,000 homes and other buildings at risk. The massive blaze has forced at least 350 residents to flee.

All California State Parks from Point Lobos State Natural Reserve through Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park are closed until further notice.

The fire this week claimed the life of 35-year-old Robert Regan. He was killed when the bulldozer he was operating rolled over on the fire lines.