Car Sparks Series of Fires Next to Freeway

A car being driven on a bare wheel rim sparked seven small brush fires on the south side of California 118 on Tuesday, forcing closure of the freeway and causing a massive traffic backup into Simi Valley.

The fires, all less than a quarter of an acre, were ignited about 1:25 p.m. on the right shoulder of the eastbound freeway between Kuehner Drive in Simi Valley and Topanga Canyon Boulevard in Los Angeles County, fire officials said.

Two helicopters and half a dozen firetrucks from Ventura and Los Angeles counties as well as the Los Angeles Fire Department responded. While crews battled the blazes, all eastbound lanes were closed, officials said.

The fires were doused in about an hour, and two of the freeway’s five lanes reopened by 2:30 p.m., CHP Officer Dave Cockrill said. All remaining lanes were open by 5 p.m.

Smoke was so thick that officers had to escort westbound traffic for several minutes. Some eastbound traffic was rerouted onto Santa Susana Pass Road, an alternative route into Los Angeles County.

Minimal rainfall in the past few months has turned brush-covered hills throughout the county into tinder. And, although it was calm Tuesday, the past week has experienced winds topping 30 mph.

“Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean we don’t have conditions for fire,” said Sandi Wells, a Ventura County Fire Department spokeswoman.

The fires were ignited about 100 yards apart by a car that had lost a tire and was driven on a bare rim onto the brush-covered shoulder, Wells said.

Bits of rubber were found scattered in the area. The car was not located, she added.