Los Angeles City firefighters and personnel from Los Angeles County and Ventura County fire departments were battling a small brush fire Sunday that has scorched about 10 acres in Chatsworth near the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway and left one person injured, according to the LAFD.
The blaze broke out around 5:10 p.m. near 23000 W. Susana Pass Road and was burning east of Rocky Peak Road between the 118 Freeway and Santa Susana Pass Road, LAFD spokesman Brian Humphrey said.
The fire may have been caused by an unidentified vehicle leaving the roadway, igniting brush and toppling electrical wires.
However, the cause remained under investigation. The driver of the vehicle suffered severe burns and was taken to a hospital for treatment by law enforcement, Humphrey said.
The wires remain electrified and down alongside Santa Susana Pass Road between Rocky Peak and Iverson roads, Humphrey said.
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.
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.
-jc