Sierra Fire erupts near Los Angeles as death toll rises in Woolsey Fire

A new brush fire ignited in Southern California, Los Angeles, occupying vegetation and threatening homes in the suburbs, officials said Wednesday.

The Sierra Fire in Fontana, about 50 miles east of downtown L.A., erupted as the state's death toll increased to 51, officials said.

This latest blaze has consumed at least 147 acres, San Bernardino County authorities said.

The Sierra Fire started at 9:30 pm Tuesday, near Interstate 15 at the intersection of North Riverside and Sierra Avenues in Fontana, as firefighters went into "structure protection" fashion, officials said.

By 8:01 a.m PT (11:01 am ET) on Wednesday, the blaze had been 75-percent contained and the "structure threat mitigated," firefighters said.

The San Bernardino County blaze is about 90 miles east of the Woolsey Fire, which has killed at least three, and the Hill Fire. The two larger fires have both drained first-responder resources in L.A. and Ventura Counties.

The Woolsey Fire's third victim was found in the 32000 block of Lobo Canyon Road in Agoura Hills, Wednesday said authorities. The latest addition to the total number of 51, which is mostly attributed to the 48 who have been confirmed killed in the Camp Fire 500 miles north in Butte County.