LOS ANGELES, May 8 (Xinhua) -- A fire started by arsonists in the Hollywood hills Tuesday spread quickly into the nearby Griffith Park, consuming as many as 200 acres and forcing the evacuation of the Los Angeles Zoo and other area attractions, officials said.

    The fire started about 1:30 p.m. local time just east of the Hollywood sign and quickly raced into the thick brush, fanned by astrong wind, but no structures were threatened.

    Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said one person was detained and is being questioned by investigators. Sources said they believe the fire was started with matches.

    Fire officials said the 20 year-old man under investigation was the only one to have been injured in the fire, and the extent of his injuries was not immediately known.

    All the entrances into the 4,212-acre park -- one of the largest in the world -- were closed and the park evacuated.

    The flames, which originated on the southern face of the hills, crossed the ridge line, sending up plumes of smoke visible from the city.

    Villaraigosa told reporters at an afternoon press conference that the Los Angeles area enjoys great weather, but one of the byproducts of that great weather is that fire season starts earlier than expected. There have been five fires in the sprawling park since December, officials said.

    The Griffith Park fire broke out as temperatures in the Los Angeles area rose to near record-high levels and weather forecasters issued fire warnings in the wake of bone-dry conditions.

    About 200 firefighters and six helicopters and a fixed-wing craft were on the scene to fight the fire, while Los Angeles police were put on a citywide tactical alert.

    Firefighters were dealing with high temperatures, winds and low humidity, conditions that prompted the National Weather Service to post a Red Flag Warning of extremely high fire danger through Wednesday evening in the mountains.

    About 20 to 25 percent of the fire was contained by late Tuesday afternoon and fire officials expect to battle the blaze into the evening.