Sepulveda Basin - Los Angeles Firefighters battled a fire that broke out Saturday in the Sepulveda Basin, scorching 10 acres of grass and light brush amid intense afternoon heat.

LAFD received a 911 call at 12:58 PM, on July 16, 2016, for a reported brush fire near 15700 Burbank Boulevard in the Sepulveda Basin Recreation Area, just Northwest of where the 405 freeway and 101 freeway cross. 

Firefighters arrived on scene to find a 1/4 acre of brush on fire, quickly spreading.  Additional firefighters were rapidly requested and began attacked the fire on the ground, surrounding the flames, while helicopters made strategic water drops on the head of the fire.

Approximately 100 LAFD firefighters, plus Los Angeles County Fire Department camp crews, under the command of Assistant Chief Patrick Butler, fully extinguished the flames in 1 hour and 27 minutes, keeping the footprint to 10 acres. No structures were threatened, and no one was injured.

The fire forced the closure of westbound Burbank Boulevard near Woodley Avenue. Local weather during the fire was: 84 degrees F, Humidity 38%, and 7 MPH wind.

The cause of the fire was undetermined.

Simultaneously in Simi Valley, the Ventura County Fire Department fought a 1-acre brush fire that broke out at near Black Canyon Road.

FS 88; Batt 10; Valley Bureau; Council District 4; Dispatched Units: BC10 BC14 BC17 CM42 E100 E109 E239 E260 E288 E290 E37 E39 E481 E83 E88 E89 E90 E99 EM17 H1 H2 H4 RA88 T39 T60 T88 T90 WT88.

El Sereno - Nearly 100 Los Angeles firefighters battled a non-injury Greater Alarm Structure Fire that engulfed a one-story commercial building Thursday evening.

At 6:02 PM, on July 14, 2016, the LAFD responded to a Structure Fire at the 5000 block of Alhambra Avenue in El Sereno, just NE of downtown, not far from where the 10 freeway and 710 intersect.

Firefighters arrived on scene to find a one-story commercial building, 100' x 50', well involved in flames. A Defensive fire attack commenced as firefighters surrounded the structure and poured large amounts of water on the blaze from the exterior. Waves of additional firefighters were called to assist. Both sides of Alhambra Avenue were shut down.

Firefighters were met by multiple challenges, beginning with reports of guard dogs on the premises (bravo side chainlink fence. Then high pressure cylinders (o2/acetylene tanks?) began off-gassing, followed by high voltage power lines falling on C-side. Lastly there were reports of a possible transient living in the structure, however a thorough search by firefighters assured no one was inside.

Nearly 100 firefighters, under the command of Drake, fully extinguish the flames in one hour and 26 minutes. No one was injured. The cause and dollar loss is under active investigation.

Dispatched Units:


DOT shutting down both sides of Alhambra Ave;
RIC

fire through the roof (metal clad?) 110 x 50 well involved
guard dogs, compressed natural gas cylinders, power wires down in the rear
propane / acetylene tanks. crackd on D side. Metal cage cvharged with 34,500 volts.