All Lanes of 101 Freeway Through Calabasas Reopen After Fire

The fire was caused by a burning car on the side of the 101 Freeway, the CHP said

All lanes of the 101 Freeway through Calabasas reopened  Monday morning after firefighters contained a brush fire set off by flames from a burning car.

The so-called "Old Fire" began about 2:50 p.m. Sunday  when a driver pulled over with car trouble on the 101 Freeway near the Las Virgenes Road exit.

The California Highway Patrol said the  Volkswagen Beetle's carburetor exploded, touching off a 175-acre grass fire that threatened homes in a Calabasas neighborhood.

About 15 minutes after the initial call, authorities began closing northbound lanes, causing a miles-long traffic jam.

More than 200 firefighters from Los Angeles city and county, and Ventura County, were fighting the blaze, according to Los Angeles County Fire Department spokesman Kyle Sanford.

Two Super Scooper fixed-wing aircraft and seven helicopters were used to fight the blaze.

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