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SANTA BARBARA

Zaca blaze fully contained Sunday

After two months, $117 million and countless man-hours, the massive Zaca wildfire was fully contained Sunday evening, officials said.

The blaze has burned 240,207 acres of remote Los Padres National Forest and was contained by 6 p.m.

"It's quite a relief for everybody here, it's been going on for quite a while," Forest Service spokesman Victor Gutierrez said. "It's 100 percent contained."

Although the blaze is contained, it still is not fully controlled, meaning there remains the possibility that some embers might blow across the containment line.

Sparks from equipment being used to repair a water pipe ignited the blaze on July 4.

In brief

TRUCKEE

Food drops urged to lure bears from town

A sharp increase in bear-human conflicts this summer is prompting a bear advocacy group to consider backcountry food drops for the animals at Lake Tahoe.

Ann Bryant, executive director of the Lake Tahoe-based BEAR League, said her group is seeking permission from the California Department of Fish and Game to use food to lure bears away from developed areas.

A lack of precipitation has led to a shortage of natural food, forcing bears into towns in search of human food. A record 20 bears have died after being hit by vehicles in the area so far this year.

VALLEJO

Man linked to 2,000 fake emergency calls

A serial crank caller using a donated cell phone has plagued 911 with nearly 2,000 fake emergency calls over the past six months, tying up dispatchers and sending police and firefighters on wild goose chases, authorities said.

A man identifying himself as Nomar started making the calls in March, according to the California Highway Patrol.

He has reported himself the victim of everything from a drug overdose and possible heart attack to robbery and attempted suicide.

Officials said they didn't know why nearly all the calls purportedly take place in Vallejo.

SANTA CLARITA

Brush fire breaks out; 200 acres scorched

A rapidly growing brush fire was spreading through parched undergrowth in Angeles National Forest on Sunday evening, officials said.

The 200-acre blaze was fanning out in several directions about 10 miles east of Santa Clarita in northern Los Angeles County, Forest Service spokesman Stanton Florea said.

No homes were immediately threatened, but several residents had called to voice concerns about a large smoke column, Florea said.

The fire is one of several to have broken out over the weekend.

A 125-acre wildfire burned through dense brush in the San Bernardino National Forest at the east end of Big Bear Lake on Sunday and forced the closure of a highway but did not threaten any homes.

— From wire reports