Los Angeles City firefighters, along with personnel from the Los Angeles County and Ventura County fire departments, have achieved full containment of a stubborn brush fire Sunday that scorched nearly nine acres in Chatsworth close to the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway that left one person seriously injured, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.
The blaze broke out around 5:10 p.m. near 23000 W. Susana Pass Road and burned east of Rocky Peak Road between the 118 Freeway and Santa Susana Pass Road, LAFD spokesman Brian Humphrey said.
The exact area burned was determined to be 8.64 acres, Humphrey added.
The cause of the fire was found to be a passenger car that tumbled off Santa Susana Pass Road, toppling a power pole and downing electrical wires before the vehicle caught fire, Humphrey said.
The man driving the car managed to climb out of the burning vehicle, make his way up a hill and flag down a passing Los Angeles police car. The man suffered second- and third-degree burns to his hands, arms and legs.
Paramedics took the man to a hospital in serious condition, Humphrey said.
The wires remain electrified and down alongside Santa Susana Pass Road between Rocky Peak and Iverson roads, Humphrey said.
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People should avoid contact with downed wires in that area.
Along with ground personnel, the LAFD sent three water-dropping helicopters to the fight.
The county fire department dispatched two water-dropping copters and two fixed-wing tankers to the site, Humphrey said.
All air resources were released from the fight around 7 p.m., he said.
The fire caused the temporary shutdown of the eastbound 118 Freeway between Rocky Peak and Topanga Canyon by the California Highway Patrol.
The CHP also shut down the westbound offramp at Rocky Peak Road.
All westbound lanes are open, Humphrey said.
Just after 7 p.m., the CHP opened the eastbound 118 carpool and 1 and 2 lanes.
The right lane of the 118 will remain shut down until at least 10 p.m. for fire suppression operations, but traffic through the area was snarled, according to the CHP.
No additional injuries were reported so far.
No structures have been threatened and no evacuations have been ordered.
Firefighters will remain on the scene Sunday night to put out any hotspots that might flare up.
