LOS ANGELES (KTLA) – A brush fire that ignited in the Sepulveda Pass Monday morning burned at least five structures and prompted officials to issue mandatory evacuations for thousands of homes.
The blaze, dubbed the Getty Fire, broke out about 1:30 a.m. just north of Sunset Boulevard on the west side of the 405 Freeway.
As of 7:15 a.m., the fire had scorched about 500 acres, according to an update from fire officials at a morning news conference.
“I personally saw five homes that are on Tigertale that have been lost,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said. A couple of homes on Kenter Canyon may also have been burned, he said.
The active, swift-moving fire was burning in a westward direction, LAFD Capt. Erik Scott said earlier.
The Mandeville Canyon and Mountain Gate areas were of “major concern,” Scott said. Aerial video from Sky5 showed multiple structures burning in the blaze.
As of 7 a.m., images from Sky5 showed the 405 Freeway had major delays but was still open to traffic. Several on and off ramps were closed in the fire area, the California Highway Patrol tweeted.
About 10,000 homes were under mandatory evacuations, according to the Fire Department.
Those evacuations have been issued for residents within the following borders:
Northern border – Mulholland Drive
Southern border – Sunset Boulevard
Eastern border – 405 Freeway
Western border – Temescal Canyon Road
“We want people to be evacuated. To grab their belongings that have been predetermined. Take care of their pets, their medications, their papers and to leave that area because the fire is moving right into that area,” Scott said.
Scott also listed boundaries for areas under evacuation warnings because the fire is burning in that direction.
Northern border – Mulholland Drive
Southern border – Pacific Coast Highway
Eastern border – Mandeville Canyon
Western border – Topanga Canyon
Evacuation shelters have been set up at the following locations:
- Westwood Recreation Center (1350 South Sepulveda Blvd.)
- Van Nuys / Sherman Oaks Recreation Center (14201 Huston St.)
- Stoner Recreation Center (1835 Stoner Ave.)
- Palisades Recreation Center (851 Alma Real Drive)
For animals:
- West Valley Animal Shelter (20655 Plummer St.)
- West LA Animal Shelter (11361 W. Pico Blvd.)
- (Large animals) Hanson Dam Rec Area
Updated fire and evacuation information can be found on LAFD.org.
About 2,600 customers were without power due to the fire, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power tweeted.
There was no immediate word on when power would be restored.
Temperatures and winds were more favorable to firefighters than during last weeks blazes, Garcetti said. Wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph were blowing but embers were not blowing enough to start new fires, he said.
Several Los Angeles Unified School District campuses have been closed Monday morning. A full update on LAUSD school closures can be found on LAUSD.net.
All Santa Monica and Malibu schools were also closed for the day, the Santa Monica/Malibu Unified School District superintendent stated in an emergency alert.
About 500 firefighters were battling the blaze from the air and the ground.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation but was not started by any type of encampment, Garcetti said.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
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