CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
August 1, 2010 | By Ann M. Simmons, Los Angeles Times
A wildfire that scorched almost 14,000 acres in Northern Los Angeles County continued to threaten thousands of homes Saturday, although fire officials said they appeared to be gaining the upper hand in the days-long battle. The Crown fire, which has raced across the western Palmdale and Leona Valley areas, was estimated to be 82% contained Saturday afternoon, after destroying four dwellings and five outbuildings. However, Los Angeles County Fire Department officials said that the situation remained "very fluid" and that weather conditions would impact the battle enormously.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
July 30, 2010 | By Ann M. Simmons and Dan Weikel, Los Angeles Times
Three wildfires broke out in northern Los Angeles County on Thursday, the worst of which was threatening at least 1,500 homes in Leona Valley, near Palmdale. Some structures have been lost to the so-called Crown fire, officials said, but they will not be able to determine whether those were homes or outbuildings on the many ranches in the area until sometime Friday. Capt. Sam Padilla, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said the Crown fire has burned nearly 6,000 acres and there was zero containment.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
July 29, 2010 | By Dan Weikel, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
Homes and other structures were burning late Thursday evening in Leona Valley, an unincorporated town of 2,200 people that was evacuated earlier in the day because of the fast-moving Crown fire. Inspector Matt Levesque, a spokesman for the Los Angeles County Fire Department, said the blaze has burned more than 4,500 acres since it started this afternoon. He said the fire is now generating its own wind, which can hamper firefighting efforts. The number of burning structures and whether they are homes or outbuildings has not been determined.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
February 26, 2004 | Hector Becerra, Times Staff Writer
A freelance video cameraman accused of starting a 5,100-acre Leona Valley wildfire testified Wednesday that detectives repeatedly ignored his requests to check videotape and photos he took that, he says, could have cleared him of suspicion. Joshua Harville, 23, of Palmdale said detectives investigating the Sept. 3, 2002, blaze had wrongly insisted that he drove a Toyota Camry to the fire and had also told him -- falsely, he says -- there were eyewitnesses to prove it.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
February 18, 2004 | Richard Fausset, Times Staff Writer
The arson trial of a freelance video cameraman began Tuesday with a prosecutor's assertion that the defendant, Joshua Harville, set a 5,100-acre blaze in Leona Valley in order to score exclusive TV news footage. Until his arrest in August, Harville, 23, of Palmdale made his living selling video news clips to local television stations. Officials said his video of the Sept.
CALIFORNIA | LOCAL
August 5, 2003 | Andrew Blankstein, Times Staff Writer
A freelance videographer pleaded not guilty Monday to setting a brush fire in the Leona Valley that charred more than 5,000 acres and destroyed four homes. Joshua Alan Harville, 23, of Palmdale was charged with five counts of arson for allegedly setting the fire. Authorities said he videotaped the blaze and then sold the footage to local television stations for $150. Harville, who was being held in lieu of $1-million bail, faces a maximum of 10 years to life in prison if convicted.