Saturday, September 15, 2012

Update: Rustic Canyon Fire is 10% contained, 200 firefighters at work on blaze - @NBCLA

advertisement

Click Here!

Hundreds of Firefighters Battle Sepulveda Pass Blaze

Firefighters are working to contain a brush fire that broke out Friday afternoon in the Sepulveda Pass. The fire is burning on the east side of the pass, but is not threatening any homes. Arson investigators are on scene. Lolita Lopez reports from the Sepulveda Pass for the NBC4 News at 11 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2012.

Sepulveda Fire is "Sad Attraction" For SoCal Visitors

SoCal visitors heading southbound on the 405 Freeway to the Getty Museum Friday were diverted away from their destination because of a brush fire near the world-famous museum. People watched the fire on the sidelines as 20-foot high flames lapped the hills. Angie Crouch reports from the Sepulveda Pass for the NBC4 News at 4 p.m. on Sept. 14, 2012.

More Photos and Videos

As fire crews on Saturday mopped up a 90-acre brush fire in the Sepulveda Pass, a blaze that broke out in Rustic Canyon spread to more than 30 acres.

Firefighters received reports of the fire at 12:28 p.m. in the 3000 block of Rustic Canyon Road (map), a residential area nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains on the edge of Topanga State Park.

The road into the canyon leads to Rustic Canyon Ranch horse rescue, which operates on land owned by the Boy Scouts of America's Camp Josepho.

Cheyenne Price, the horse rescue's founder, said she and her employees and their 10 horses planned to evacuate as soon as firefighters would let them out. Firefighters were using the private road to fight the blaze, she said.

"They haven't opened the road for us to evacuate," Price said. "There's only one way in and one way out."

She said some 100 campers were at Camp Josepho, next door to the horse rescue.

In an emailed alert, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said.said "campers + staff at Camp Josepho are sheltered in place and NOT in harm's way." Fire officials were working with park rangers to locate any hikers in the area.

No homes wre threatened and no "formal" evacuations had been ordered, Humphrey said.

In a 3:47 p.m. blog post, the department said "nearby residents are encouraged to prepare for evacuation."

The blaze had spread from 5 acres to more than 30 acres at that time, and firefighters were working in 105-degree heat.

Some 200 firefigthers were on scene, staging from Sunset Boulevard and Rustic Creek Lane (map).

Meanwhile, fire crews were mopping up what was left of the fire on Saturday and had the blaze about 40 percent contained, fire officials said. They expected to have that fire fully contained on Sunday, officials said.

Photos: Super Scoopers Join Fight Against Sepulveda Fire

All roads but one into and out of the area were open on Saturday, Humphrey said.

Sepulveda Boulevard north was closed. Humphrey said that anyone trying to get to the Getty Center should call to find out about alternate routes before hitting the road.

The fire broke out at 3:30 p.m. Friday, just before the evening commute, east of the 405 Freeway near Getty Center Drive and Sepulveda Boulevard, above one of the nation's busiest freeway sections.

The cause of the fire was under investigation on Saturday, Humphrey said.

There were no injuries and no damages reported, officials said.

The balzes came during a punishing heat wave that continued to have fire officials on alert for additional brush fires on Saturday.

Forecasters high temperatures to range from 98 to 108 in the valleys and the mid 90s to 104 across the L.A. County basin and low mountains.


View Larger Map

Follow NBCLA for the latest LA news, events and entertainment: iPhone/iPad App | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Instagram | RSS | Text Alerts | Email Alerts