10-Acre Brush Fire Closes Freeway Ramps
A wind-whipped brush fire snarled Tuesday morning rush-hour traffic on the Simi Valley Freeway in Chatsworth but was contained by 300 firefighters before endangering nearby homes, authorities said.
The fire, possibly started by embers blown from a burning mattress on the freeway, forced the closure of all ramps at the Topanga Canyon Boulevard interchange while 10 acres of brush burned.
Los Angeles city and county firefighters and three helicopters took about two hours to contain the blaze, which was reported about 6 a.m., city Firefighter Greg Acevedo said. One crew member from a fire camp for juvenile offenders was injured when a gust of wind blew him down a hill, dislocating his shoulder, officials said. His name was not released.
Authorities said winds reached up to 60 m.p.h. and quickly spread the blaze in the rocky valley between Topanga Canyon Boulevard and Canoga Avenue. The fire was within quarter of a mile of residential neighborhoods but did not threaten any of the structures, authorities said.
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