Several of Los Angeles' most beloved landmarks and tourist attractions were threatened by a wildfire that broke out Tuesday. At press time on Wednesday, the 600-acre blaze in Griffith Park was 40 percent contained by firefighters. Griffith Park is a mix of wilderness and such cultural sites as the Griffith Observatory, horse and hiking trails and recreational facilities, all set on more than 4,000 acres in the hills between Hollywood and the San Fernando Valley. Visitors to the park's Greek Theatre, Observatory and the Museum of the American West were evacuated, while the 1,200 animals in the Los Angeles Zoo were put in their night holding pens and closely watched. At press time, there were no plans to evacuate the animals. On Tuesday, an evacuation center in a high school housed 35 evacuees out of a total 300 residents who reside near the park. Wednesday morning evacuees were allowed to return to their homes.
