Brush Fire Breaks Out in the Hills Above Warner Bros. Studio

The Barham Fire began near the base of Mount Lee on the San Fernando Valley side of Mount Lee

Water-dropping helicopters were attacking a stubborn brush fire that broke out Saturday afternoon on the north side of Mount Lee and cast thick smoke over Warner Bros. Studio and the Hollywood Hills area.

The brush fire started above Forest Lawn Drive on the San Fernando Valley side of Mount Lee, over the hill from the Hollywood sign. The fire was reported just before 2 p.m. and burned uphill in an area with heavy brush.

No structures were threatened. The nearest residential structures was the Oakwood Corporate Housing complex, located off Barham Boulevard to the west of the fire. 

At least five water-dropping helicopters were hammering flames with precise drops. They were refilling atop Mount Lee behind the Hollywood sign and at nearby Lake Hollywood Reservoir.

There were several firebreaks between the fire and nearby structures, including the Hollywood sign. Smoke could be seen towering over the sign from the Hollywood side of the mountain.

The slow-moving brush fire had burned 40 acres by 11:00 p.m. According to the LAFD, forward progress of the fire had been stopped by 4:55 p.m. As of 11:00 p.m., the fire was at 15% containment.

Smoke could be seen from miles around in the San Fernando Valley. More than 230 LAFD personnel were battling fire, according to LAFD. One firefighter was hurt.  

The cause of the fire was unknown, but the fire department said, "Preliminary indications are that there was no homeless encampments in or around the fire's point of origin."

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