EVE OF '04 MAINLY FREE OF LOCAL CRIME.

Byline: Daily News

Santa Clarita sheriff's deputies checked out the Westridge area after receiving six phone calls from residents who heard what they said might have been gunfire at midnight New Year's Eve, but no arrests were made.

Deputies also dispersed nearly 400 people from a street early Thursday morning after a crowd at a large party spilled outdoors.

``We used pepper spray, but there was no force used, and no arrests were made,'' said sheriff's Lt. Bill Weiss, the watch commander. He said some revelers got into fistfights but no injuries were reported.

He said a few people also phoned in about motorists who apparently were driving under the influence of alcohol.

County firefighters said New Year's Eve was quiet for them in the Santa Clarita Valley.