Hollywood flames

From Reuters

"Fire sends smoke billowing over Hollywood sign
Fri Mar 30, 2007 6:11PM EDT

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - A brush fire in the foothills above Los Angeles sent dark plumes of smoke over the famed Hollywood sign on Friday and threatened an apartment building.

Television pictures showed thick black smoke billowing over the 50-foot (15-meter) sign, long a Hollywood landmark, even though the actual fire was about a quarter mile away and across a canyon, fire officials said.

About 200 firefighters battled the fire, assisted by water-dropping helicopters, said Ron Myers of the Los Angeles city fire department. Early reports said the fire had charred about five acres.

The Hollywood sign, which was built of wood in 1923 and read Hollywoodland as an advertisement for a housing development, is now made of steel and painted white."