Sunland Fires Close Lanes on Freeway

A series of suspicious brush fires erupted along the Foothill Freeway in Sunland on Sunday night, forcing the California Highway Patrol to close the eastbound lanes for about 45 minutes, authorities reported.

There were no injuries, and no structures were threatened in the blazes that began around 8 p.m. and were extinguished shortly before 9 p.m., said Jim Wells, a Los Angeles City Fire Department spokesman.

The fires spread along a mile-long stretch south of the freeway near Sunland Boulevard and charred about 10 acres of brush, Wells said. He said he did not know how many fires erupted.

Wells said three helicopters and eight fire units--about 40 firefighters--responded to the blazes.

The cause of the fires was under investigation late Sunday.

The CHP reported closing the eastbound lanes until about 9 p.m., then reopening the two lanes along the median and away from the burned area. The westbound lanes remained open, a CHP spokeswoman said.