A fast-moving brush fire chewed through dry hillside near the Encino Reservoir on Tuesday afternoon, briefly putting nearby homes on alert and sending a squadron of water-dropping helicopters into the sky. Firefighters tapped the reservoir for water and hit the flames from both ground and air. By midafternoon, officials said the fire’s forward progress was stopped, with several acres left scorched but no immediate reports of injuries.
What officials said
The blaze was reported just after noon in the 4500 block of North Encino Avenue, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Fire crews worked the flanks of the blaze and the department later declared forward progress stopped at about 2:16 p.m., estimating that roughly five acres had burned, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
Aerial attack and evacuations
Multiple water-dropping helicopters were called in to pound hot spots, with pilots cycling to the reservoir to refill buckets so the aircraft could quickly return to the fire line. An evacuation warning for residents around the reservoir went up while crews were still battling the flames, then was lifted once conditions improved, according to ABC7 Los Angeles.
Power outages and disruptions
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power was called to the scene for reports of downed electrical wires, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The disruption rippled into the neighborhood, with about 900 customers temporarily losing power, Fox 11 estimated. Fire officials said crews would be sticking around for several hours for mop-up operations and to bring the blaze to full containment.
Drone strike reported
As if a hillside fire were not enough drama for one afternoon, a police helicopter in the area had a scare of its own. NBC Los Angeles reported that the LAPD said one of its helicopters made an emergency landing at Van Nuys Airport after it was struck by a drone. Police said the aircraft was being inspected for damage. Flying drones near firefighting or law-enforcement aircraft is prohibited and can trigger federal investigations, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
Why this matters
The Encino Reservoir is more than a scenic backdrop. Its proximity makes it a key water source for aerial firefighting, and during past blazes helicopters have repeatedly cycled through the reservoir to keep up steady water drops, as documented by the Los Angeles Times. With fires like this one sparking close to homes, residents in hillside neighborhoods are urged to sign up for the city’s emergency alerts and track official updates. The city’s text and email warning system is available through NotifyLA.
