150-Acre Brush Fire Near Glendale Is 30% Contained

A 150-acre brush fire above Brand Park in Glendale was about 30 percent contained today, authorities said.

No structures were threatened by the fire, which was reported at 12:27 p.m. Sunday behind the Brand Library in the 1600 block of West Mountain Street, said Glendale spokesman Dan Bell. No evacuations were ordered, he said.

What started off as a 10-acre brusher grew to 50 acres by 5 p.m. Sunday and spread to 150 acres a couple of hours later, Bell said. It was unclear how long it would take to fully extinguish the flames.

The fire burned away from structures and into "very steep, treacherous canyons," Bell said. Five helicopters attacked the flames during daylight hours Sunday but could not work overnight because of wires in the area, Bell said.

Overnight, firefighters using bulldozers worked to cut containment lines around the blaze.

At least 180 firefighters were deployed to battle the flames, including personnel from Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena, Los Angeles City, Los Angeles County and U.S. Forest Service "Hot Shots."

Minor injuries were reported, including a firefighter who suffered a scrape and another who suffered a cut when they were hit by a falling rock, he said. Another twisted an ankle.

Five hikers were in the area when the fire started and two walked out of the brush on their own, Bell said. Three others were airlifted around the smoke and flames.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation. "We know where it started but no cause has been determined," Bell said.

—City News Service