On Saturday, September 03, 2005 at 5:05 PM PDT, twenty-four Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, two LAFD Rescue Ambulances, four LAFD Helicopters, various LAFD Support Units, one seasonal contract Helitanker, four Los Angeles County Fire Department Hand Crews with Crew Supervisor, eleven Companies of Burbank Firefighters, twelve Companies of US Forest Service Firefighters and one US Forest Service Helicopter, all under the command of Los Angeles Fire Department Assistant Chief Michael Fulmis, responded to a Major Emergency Brush Fire near 9562 Via Salerno in Sun Valley.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived quickly to discover two acres of grass burning steadily away from homes in the mountainous Villa Cabrini subdivision that borders the City of Burbank and Verdugo Mountains.

Firefighters flanked the fire with handlines over increasingly steep terrain as water-dropping helicopters precisely attacked the head of the fire.

Despite a mild but steady wind, the stubborn flames were confined to twenty-five acres of grass and brush and extinguished in just two hours and thirty-six minutes.

No injuries were reported.

Fire resistant roof materials and strict compliance with brush clearance regulations throughout the neighborhood allowed Firefighters to readily defend the hillside community from fire damage.

The cause of the blaze is categorized as suspicious and remains under active investigation.

Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department