SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - A pair of persistent wildfires continued to burn in the hills and mountains around Interstate 5 north of Los Angeles on Saturday, although authorities were slowly getting the upper hand.

A new fire that broke out Friday, the third major blaze in the area in a week, quickly surged to 712 acres Friday and briefly threatened an elementary school and about 20 homes.

Some 350 firefighters, who battled both flames and unpredictable winds, were able to hold the line against it Saturday morning, however.