[Tuesday Update: City News Service reports this morning that the Osito Fire, near Pyramid Lake, is 65 percent contained and only burned 280 acres of brush, less than originally feared.]

Four days after the National Forest Service raised its fire-danger alert status to Very High, a wildfire has broken out near Pyramid Lake. The blaze, situated in the northern part of L.A. County, near Interstate 5, was spotted around noon today and has quickly spread to 400 acres, though very light winds are helping firefighters. A couple of northbound I-5 lanes have been shut down, creating a monumental traffic jam in temperatures that have hovered around the century mark. Meanwhile, a 15-acre brusher has just been reported in Lancaster, near 245th Street West and West Avenue D.

Thursday's NFS alert for Angeles National Forest came one month earlier than a similar alarm in 2008, indicating that the county is in for a longer, hotter summer than last year's. Wednesday, firefighters beat down an 80-acre brusher that erupted near the Getty Center and Mount St. Mary's College, apparently sparked by brush-clearance equipment. But other lesser fires have flared up around Dodger Stadium and elsewhere over the past week.

Advertising disclosure: We may receive compensation for some of the links in our stories. Thank you for supporting LA Weekly and our advertisers.