Los Angeles firefighters were able to halt forward progress on a blaze that broke out in rocky hiking terrain near a Chatsworth neighborhood Wednesday, officials said.
Dubbed the Jeffrey Fire, flames were reported just before 4 p.m. in the 22500 block of West Jeffrey Mark Court, near Chatsworth Park South, the L.A. Fire Department said in an alert.
As of about 6 p.m., the fire covered less than 9 acres and was 50% contained.
Fanned by light winds with gusts up to 14 mph, the blaze had spread uphill toward the east in light-to-medium brush.
Although as many as 100 homes were in the fire’s path, no structures were threatened and no evacuations were necessary, the fire department said.
No injuries were reported. Firefighters said they “relentlessly pursued one vague report of a person in the wilderness who may have been in peril,” but no one was found.
Motorists were still advised to avoid the area of Chatsworth Park South and the hills to the north to make room for firefighting vehicles.
LAFD said Los Angeles County and Ventura County firefighters were assisting in the battle.
Firefighters planned to remain on scene overnight to fully contain the flames and monitor for flare-ups.
The National Weather Service had warned critical fire weather would linger in the area through Wednesday due to high temperatures coupled with gusty winds and low humidity.
“It’s interesting because it used to be we had a brush season that was normally in October and the Santa Ana months,” said LAFD Capt. Cody Weireter. “Unfortunately, that’s year-round now.”
The temperature near the fire Wednesday afternoon was 92 degrees, while relative humidity was 24-28%, NWS said.
Amid the hot conditions across Southern California, another fire exploded to as many as 100 acres in San Bernardino Wednesday. Dubbed the University Fire, the blaze near the 210 and 215 freeways was 50% contained as of about 4 p.m.
