Griffith Observatory to remain closed through Friday after brush fire scorches parkland

Los Angeles’ Griffith Observatory will remain closed Wednesday after a 25-acre brush fire scorched hillsides in Griffith Park a day earlier.

The fire did not approach the famous observatory, said Mark Pine, deputy director of the observatory, but the observatory remained closed Wednesday to “enable continued fire suppression and cleanup.”

“There are still hot spots,” he said.

The observatory will remain closed Thursday and Friday, according to a statement on its website.

The observatory’s grounds, roads, parking lots and hiking trails and the areas around the Greek Theatre and Western Canyon will also be closed, according to a statement on the observatory’s website. The statement did not say when the observatory would reopen.

Griffith Observatory remains closed Wednesday due to Tuesday’s brush fire.

(Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times )

The fire is 100% contained and about 75 firefighters and heavy vehicles are patrolling the burn area for hot spots in case winds kick up during the day, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.

A drone flyover Tuesday showed that ground temperatures were still above 300 degrees, he said.

“Mother Nature is in charge,” he said. “Even some light wind could blow an ember.”

Humphrey said there have been no reports of injuries due to the fire and the he wasn’t aware of any damage to the observatory itself. About 25 vehicles were damaged in the fire, he said.

The fire was reported just after 2 p.m. about a quarter-mile northwest of the observatory, according to the Fire Department. The blaze sent up an enormous plume of smoke that was photographed by park-goers as well as others miles away.

Tuesday’s fire was a far cry from the 817 acre conflagration that charred the famous park in 2007.

UPDATES:

5:15 p.m.: This story was updated with new closure details provided by the Griffith Observatory website.

This article was originally published at 8:45 a.m.