Firefighters worked through the night to extinguish a fast-moving fire that exploded on Highway 405 near the Getty Center Wednesday evening.
Around 11 p.m., Los Angeles Fire Department personnel responded to the Sepulveda Fire burning in moderate to heavy brush in the area of North Sepulveda Boulevard and Getty Center Drive.
Airmen drop water on a brush fire near Sepulveda Pass on January 22, 2025. (KTLA) Airmen drop water on a brush fire near Sepulveda Pass on January 22, 2025. (KTLA) Sepulveda Pass on January 22, 2025. (KTLA) Airmen drop water on a nearby bushfire. Sepulveda Pass on January 22, 2025. (Ana Maria Montoya) A brush fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass on January 22, 2025. (KTLA) A brush fire burns in Sepulveda Pass on January 22, 2025. (KTLA) A brush fire burns in Sepulveda Pass on January 22, 2025. (KTLA) Bush Fire seen burning in Sepulveda Pass, January 22, 2025 (KTLA) Fire seen burning in Sepulveda Pass, January 22, 2025 (KTLA)
Wind gusts of up to 25 mph caused the fire to spread quickly, reaching 40 acres, but firefighters responded aggressively with multiple drops of water from a helicopter.
“It always amazes me how firefighters drop water droplets here at Sepulveda Pass…It’s a narrow pass, so they avoid power lines and other obstacles. It takes skill,” said KTLA’s Eric Spielman.
Evacuation warnings were also issued for parts of Brentwood and Bel Air, as well as Mount Saint Mary’s University. The Hotel Angeleno, located next to Highway 405, was also evacuated, but firefighters were able to stop the fire from progressing around 2 a.m.
The blaze had not spread to any homes in the area and all evacuations had been lifted as of 2:30 a.m., according to an update from Cal Fire.
“The fire was primarily terrain driven, but Santa Ana winds pushed it up the hill. The availability of Palisades Fire aircraft and additional pre-deployed firefighting resources quickly “We were very fortunate to be able to respond and contain this fire to within 45 acres.”
Sepulveda Boulevard remained closed to Sepulveda Pass starting Thursday morning, and portions of the 405 Freeway uphill and downhill were also closed.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
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