Drivers along the 405 Freeway at the Sepulveda Pass in Brentwood were met with a thick column of smoke Thursday afternoon as firefighters attacked a brush fire burning up the hillside on May 28. News helicopters and ground crews converged on the scene, and while the smoke looked dramatic, officials reported no injuries or evacuations as crews worked to corral the flames.
Around 2:45 p.m., aerial footage showed a sizable plume of smoke rising from the pass and active fire chewing through the vegetation. The Los Angeles Fire Department said the blaze was burning in heavy brush and was moving uphill at roughly 3 to 5 miles per hour. “No structures are threatened, and firefighters are establishing hose lines, operating in the offensive mode,” the department said, according to CBS Los Angeles.
The city’s incident page shows a Sepulveda Basin brush-fire entry listing dozens of units assigned to the response and indicating that forward progress of the fire had been stopped. The alert estimates that about 1.5 acres burned and notes that arson investigators were requested. Per the Los Angeles Fire Department, the number of firefighters attached to the incident was also in the dozens.
Smaller fires along the Sepulveda Pass have a history of causing outsized headaches. Past roadside blazes have kicked up heavy smoke and tangled traffic on the 405, with lanes shut down during rush-hour responses. The Los Angeles Times previously reported on a vegetation fire near Skirball Center Drive that closed three southbound lanes and sent a noticeable smoke plume across the freeway.
Why the Sepulveda Pass Keeps Fire Officials on Edge
The Sepulveda Pass is a tight, vulnerable corridor where dry brush, steep slopes and gusty winds can quickly turn a modest roadside spark into something much larger, which is why even a small fire here makes commuters and nearby neighborhoods understandably nervous. The 2017 Skirball Fire and subsequent brush fires in the same area showed how rapidly flames in this terrain can grow, according to LAist.
Officials urged Angelenos to stick with verified information as crews wrap up containment and mop-up work. For the latest updates, check the Los Angeles Fire Department alerts page and ongoing coverage from CBS Los Angeles.
