Homes Spared as Crews Douse Fire in Laurel Canyon
A fast-moving brush fire fanned by gusty winds blackened about 15 acres of rugged hillside in the Laurel Canyon area near the Mt. Olympus enclave Monday night but was doused by more than 150 city firefighters before it could damage any homes in the affluent area.
The fire erupted shortly after 7 p.m., and at its height the wall of flames could be seen over a wide area.
Los Angeles City fire officials labeled the blaze a major emergency and stationed fire engines next to the valuable homes. Flames licked to within 15 feet of some residences, witnesses said.
Battalion Chief Roger Gillis credited householders in the area with “a good job of brush clearance.” The 15-m.p.h. winds were described as “cold and erratic” by firefighters and were blamed for the fast spread of the blaze, which was contained at 8:45 p.m. with the assistance of five water-dropping helicopters.
Preliminary estimates indicated that the blaze blackened three hillsides and two canyons.
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