Brush Fire Halted Before Burning Out Of Control

On Monday, September 13, 2010 at 1:50 PM, 15 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 3 Helicopters, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, 2 Brush Patrols, 1 Rehab Tender, 2 Fixed-wing Super Scoopers, 1 Ericksons Aircrane, & Los Angeles County Fire Department Personnel under the direction of Assistant Chief Patrick Butler responded to a Brush Fire at 19161 West Sesnon Boulevard in Porter Ranch.

Los Angeles Firefighters arrived in force to find half an acre of light brush burning just north of Sesnon Boulevard and Tampa Avenue. With haste, additional help was immediately requested and a Unified Command was rapidly established between Los Angeles Fire Department and Los Angeles County Fire Department.

Firefighters swiftly anchored the flames that were spreading uphill and northward. Fortunately, the fire was moving away from local residences, being driven by the topography and a light five mph wind. The swift arrival of precise water-dropping aircraft, along with hard working Firefighters who labored on the ground by extending progressive hose lays up steep terrain, halted the flames by 2:40 PM, before the blaze could burn over the next ridge and out of control. It took over 200 Firefighters just one hour and two minutes to bring the flames under full containment, but not before the fire had charred a total of 37 acres of grass and brush. No structures were damaged during the incident and no formal evacuation went into affect. Unfortunately three LACoFD Firefighters were injured, one suffered chest pains and two others sustained bee stings; all three were taken to a local hospital where they were treated and released. The cause of the fire remains under an active investigation.

Submitted by - Erik Scott, Spokesman, Los Angeles Fire Department