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Crews Make Progress Against Massive SoCal Wildfire; 3,000 Evacuated

LANCASTER, Los Angeles County (CBS/AP) -- Firefighters doubled containment of a massive wildfire north of Los Angeles to 40 percent overnight, as cool, moist air moved in to replace torrid weather.

Firefighters were able halt the progress of the fire's northeastern front, which had been moving into unoccupied desert lands north of Angeles National Forest.

Officials estimate that some 3,000 residents from about 700 homes were under mandatory evacuation orders.

Crews remained in place to protect structures in the rural hamlets of Lake Hughes and Lake Elizabeth, but flames were moving away from residential areas.

The blaze has burned about 30,000 acres - 46 square miles in mountain and canyons areas - destroying at least six houses and damaging 15 more.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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