A second Simi Valley wildfire erupts, at least 150 acres charred
Brush fire puts up a huge plume of smoke in the hills above Simi Valley.
A wildfire erupted Friday afternoon in Simi Valley -- the second one of the day -- and charred more than 150 acres as firefighters from several agencies fought to contain the blaze.
The Rustic fire broke out as afternoon temperatures climbed into triple digits and was burning on hillsides near homes. About 500 homes were threatened, according to Capt. Mike Lindbery of the Ventura County Fire Department but no evacuations have been ordered.
The department said it was receiving help from several other agencies, including the Los Angeles County Fire Department and the Los Angeles Fire Department.
Smoke from the fire could be seen from the Malibu Hills, according to the L.A. Fire Department, which tweeted a photo.
No injuries have been reported.
Earlier in the day, a truck that went over an embankment on the 118 Freeway sparked a brush fire shortly before 6 a.m. That blaze consumed about 5 acres before firefighters brought it under control with the help of water-dropping helicopters.
Two westbound lanes of the freeway were closed as firefighters worked to put out the blaze, the California Highway Patrol said.
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