Several small brush fires forced an exit ramp closure and slowed traffic along the 118 Freeway Monday morning in the northwest San Fernando Valley.
California Wildfires: Wildfires Map | Resources
The closure was in effect for the Tampa Avenue exit, just west of the 405 Freeway in the Porter Ranch area. At least three fires, all smaller than one acre, scorched brush alongside the freeway exit ramp.
Aerial video showed several firefighting vehicles on the exit ramp as firefighters attacked the fire on an embankment. Two water-dropping helicopters also responded to the fires, which started about 70 yards apart
The View Ridge Town Homes property is located above the embankment, but there have been no reports of property damage or injuries.
"We've got the freeway on the one side and the housing complex up on the other," said LAFD Capt. Sheldon McKowan. "We were able to get resources up on the top and resources on the bottom."
The fires come as the National Weather Service warns of elevated fire danger throughout Los Angeles County through Wednesday. Last week, a brush fire likely caused by an illegal campfire spread out of Angeles National Forest and burned homes in the San Gabriel Valley.
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Authorities have not determined the cause of Monday's freeway fires.
