A fast-moving brush fire dubbed the Jasper Fire scorched roughly five acres in the hills above Calabasas on Wednesday morning, sending a thick plume of smoke over the Mulholland corridor and triggering a quick, muscular response from firefighters. Engines, crews on foot, and at least one water-dropping helicopter hit the slopes as firefighters climbed the steep hillside to corral the flames. Officials said the fire did not immediately threaten homes, and forward progress appeared to be stopped.
According to CBS Los Angeles, the blaze broke out just before 9:30 a.m. near the Mulholland corridor as dense black smoke rose from the hillside and the Los Angeles County Fire Department moved in. Aerial video published by the outlet showed smoke boiling up from the brush as crews attacked the fire. The cause remains under investigation.
NBC Los Angeles reported that flames were also spotted near Mulholland Highway and Malibu Canyon Road and that at least one water-dropping helicopter was making repeated runs on the fire. The station said no buildings appeared to be under immediate threat, though power lines run through the area. Details about how the fire started were not immediately available.
Pepperdine University, which has a campus nearby, posted on its emergency page that the fire was near the intersection of Las Virgenes Road and Mulholland Highway, had burned about five acres, and that forward progress appeared to be stopped. The university cautioned that there may be temporary closures or disruptions of Las Virgenes Road and urged students, staff, and neighbors to follow directions from local authorities.
How Crews Fought The Blaze
Photos and video from the scene showed Los Angeles County firefighters clawing their way up steep, brushy terrain as engines and hand crews worked to carve out containment lines while air resources pounded the flames, according to CBS Los Angeles. That rapid mix of ground and aerial attack helped box the fire into a relatively small footprint as crews moved in to mop up and cool remaining hotspots.
Local Context
The Jasper Fire flared up during a volatile stretch of wildfire activity across Southern California, a reminder that fire season is not waiting for summer to settle in. Earlier this month, the Sandy fire in Simi Valley burned more than 1,300 acres and prompted evacuation orders, underscoring how quickly conditions can escalate. As reported by The Los Angeles Times, shifting winds and dry fuels have complicated suppression efforts in recent incidents across the region.
What Residents Should Know
Authorities urged residents to keep an eye on official channels for any evacuation notices or road closure updates and to steer clear of the area so fire crews can work without extra traffic. Officials also reminded the public to be ready to move quickly if conditions change and to stay plugged into verified information.
Residents can sign up for county emergency alerts through Ready LA and follow Los Angeles County Fire on social media and official websites for the latest on the Jasper Fire and other incidents.
