(From the latimes.com) Three wildfires broke out in northern Los Angeles County on Thursday, the worst of which was threatening at least 1,500 homes in Leona Valley, near Palmdale. Some structures have been lost to the so-called Crown fire, officials said, but they will not be able to determine whether those were homes or outbuildings on the many ranches in the area until sometime Friday.

Capt. Sam Padilla, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said the Crown fire has burned nearly 6,000 acres and there was zero containment. In addition to Leona Valley, evacuation orders were issued for the nearby community of Ana Verde and the fire was moving east toward Quartz Hill, leaving the possibility of more evacuations overnight.

Although flames were burning below electrical transmission towers in the area, Padilla said there have been no interruptions of power to surrounding communities. At least one communications tower was on fire.

The burning structures were on the northern side of Leona Valley, an agricultural area west of Palmdale known for cherries and wine grapes.

Read more here: 1,500 L.A. homes threatened; preparedness urged