Fire crews make progress against blaze that forced thousands to flee north of LA

A firefighter battles the Canyon Fire (Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP)

Firefighters in a mountainous area north of Los Angeles have made good progress in their battle against a brush fire which has forced thousands of people to evacuate the area, an official said.

The Canyon Fire ignited on Thursday afternoon and spread rapidly in the dry, steep terrain in Ventura and Los Angeles counties to more than 7.6 square miles, with no containment by 11pm, according to Ventura County Fire Department.