Firefighters battled a brushfire along the Foothill (210) Freeway in Pasadena while the smoke, flames and freeway SigAlert made it more difficult for UCLA football fans to get to Saturday’s game in the Rose Bowl, authorities said.
The fire was reported at 4:50 p.m. along the eastbound Foothill Freeway west of the Long Beach (710) Freeway, officials said.
The fire burned more than two acres and smoke could be seen for several blocks, Pasadena Fire Department spokeswoman Lisa Derderian said.
The Los Angeles County Fire Department sent a Firehawk water-dropping helicopter to aid in the fight and the spread of the fire was contained about 5:40 p.m., Derderian said.
Firefighters were expected to remain on the scene for hours to ensure there were no flare-ups, she said.
The California Highway Patrol issued a SigAlert at 5:12 p.m. for the westbound transition of the 210 Freeway to the southbound 710 and the Walnut Street onramp to the westbound 210 Freeway. The lanes were reopened about 8 p.m.
Several lanes of the Ventura (134) Freeway were also shut down, Derderian said.
“The UCLA game is at 7:30 p.m. at the Rose Bowl so traffic will be impacted for patrons en route now,” she said.