On Tuesday, July 29, 2008 at 2:30 PM, 18 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 3 Helicopters, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams and 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, a total of 110 LAFD personnel, as well as 2 Department of Recreation and Parks Water Tenders, 2 Los Angeles County Fire Department Handcrews and 1 CERT Coordinator, all under the direction of Assistant Chief Mark Stormes, responded to a Major Emergency Brush Fire near 2580 North Soto Street in El Sereno.

Firefighters arrived quickly to find one acre of grass burning steadily uphill, with flames extending into heavier vegetation.

As firefighters rapidly flanked the flames that threatened several homes, precise water drops by LAFD helicopters stemmed the advance of the fire, allowing the blaze to consume less than five acres of grass and brush before being controlled in just 66 minutes.

There were no injuries, and firefighters prevented the flames from damaging any residential buildings.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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Submitted by Brian Humphrey, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department