Brush Fire in Sepulveda Pass Burns 8 Acres
A smoky brush fire burned a Sepulveda Pass hillside near expensive homes and a golf course Thursday, snarling rush-hour traffic on the San Diego Freeway between the San Fernando Valley and the remainder of the city.
No injuries or building damage were reported from the blaze, which was reported shortly before 2:30 p.m. near the Mountaingate Country Club. The fire burned about eight acres along the freeway and threatened large hilltop homes at the country club, a Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman said.
The flames were kept from the homes by cleared areas and a concrete wall. No homes were evacuated.
Golfers pulled up in their carts to watch firefighters battle the blaze on the steep hillside before employees evacuated the south course. The fire burned within 10 feet of the course but stopped at the well-watered greens.
“We had flames shoot up about 30 feet high right along our No. 1 hole. It burned until it couldn’t burn anymore,” said Kurt Zepf, the club’s assistant golf pro.
Gawkers slowed southbound freeway traffic to a crawl. The freeway remained open, but Sepulveda Boulevard adjacent to the freeway was closed for emergency vehicles, the California Highway Patrol said.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.
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