LOS ANGELES, May 9 (Xinhua) -- A wildfire that scorched over 800 acres in a sprawling park here should be fully contained within 24 hours, barring any more heavy winds, officials said Wednesday.

    The fire, which may have been started by a homeless man who fell asleep smoking a cigarette, was described as the city's worst in more than four decades, having forced the evacuation of some 300 people and damaged at least one home.

    According to Ron Myers of the Los Angeles Fire Department, the blaze in Griffith Park and the nearby Hollywood Hills was 50 percent contained late Wednesday morning, and residential evacuation orders earlier issued had been lifted.

    Fire officials now expect full containment of the fire by Thursday if the winds do not pick up in the area.

    Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said Wednesday that the 4,212-acre Griffith Park -- one of the largest in the world -- and other nearby attractions would be closed through Thursday.

    The mayor also said California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had issued an executive order that would provide firefighting assistance to the Los Angeles area.

    Villaraigosa urged residents to clear brush around their properties and to obey evacuation orders when given -- for their safety and the safety of others.

    The blaze broke out about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday (2130 GMT) just east of the Hollywood sign and quickly raced into the thick brush, fanned by strong winds amid bone-dry conditions and high temperatures.

    A man in his 20s suffered burns in the fire and was detained on suspicion of smoking in a restricted area. Fire officials said the man apparently fell asleep while smoking a cigarette at a homeless encampment.