Local News in Brief : 2 Lanes of Golden State Closed by Brush Fire

Two truck lanes on the southbound Golden State Freeway in the Santa Clarita area were closed for nearly three hours Sunday because of a small brush fire next to the freeway, authorities said.

The three-acre fire, caused by discarded smoking materials, started after 3 p.m. on a steep, grassy area next to the freeway at its junction with the Antelope Valley Freeway, Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Norm Branch said.

Six engine companies took more than three hours to put out the fire, hampered by the steep terrain, and the two freeway lanes were closed to make room for the firefighters and their equipment, Branch said.

Trucks were directed to the lanes normally used by cars only, and traffic was slow near the immediate area of the fire, Branch said.