5 Acre Brush Fire Near La Zoo

On Monday, August 9, 2010 at 4:57 PM, 11 Companies of Los Angeles Firefighters, 3 LAFD Rescue Ambulances, 1 Arson Unit, 4 Helicopters, 1 EMS Battalion Captain, 2 Battalion Chief Officer Command Teams, 1 Division Chief Officer Command Team, 1 LAFD Water Tender , LA City Park Rangers, 2 LA County Helicopters, 4 LA County Hand Crews, 1 Glendale/Burbank Strike Team under the direction of Assistant Chief Daryl Arbuthnott responded to a Greater Alarm Brush Fire at 5 fwy at Ventura fwy in Griffith Park.


Firefighters arrived to find 1 acres of medium to heavy brush burning alongside the hills near the 5 freeway ½ mile from the L.A. Zoo. Although the fire was originally difficult to get to, and with winds speeds around 8 mph, ground crews quickly used hand lines to reach the flames. Water dropping helicopters were quickly called in to action to assist in attacking the fire from above. Firefighters continued to reach the head of the fire though rough terrain, holding the blaze to less than 5 acres.

The nearby Zoo remained open and out of harms way during the incident, with no evacuations issued. There were no threats to any structures or civilians involved during the incident.

A total of 77 LAFD firefighters along with the assistance of multiple agencies, worked diligently to bring the fire to full containment in just one hour and eight minutes. The cause of the blaze is yet to be determined by Fire Department Officials.

Submitted by Devin Gales, Spokesman
Los Angeles Fire Department