A small but fast-moving grass fire along the westbound 118 Freeway near Pacoima flared up Monday night, charring roughly a quarter-acre before firefighters shut it down in short order. The flames sparked around 7:13 p.m. and started creeping toward nearby homes as air support was called in. Officials reported no injuries and no damage to any structures.
Where the fire burned and who responded
According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, the incident was logged as INC#1548. First-arriving crews reported about a quarter-acre of grass burning along the westbound 118 near Pacoima.
The alert notes that Battalion 12 oversaw an assignment that included companies from Fire Station 98, with Engines 24, 298, 91, and 98, plus Truck 98, all rolling to the scene. Water-dropping helicopters were dispatched to back up the ground attack. The department’s notification also records a CHP log number for the call and states that the cause of the blaze remains under investigation.
Fast knockdown with no injuries
As posted on LAFD's post on X, 24 firefighters “surrounded, contained and extinguished” the flames in about 26 minutes. No structures were damaged. The update included a map and a brief incident link for anyone following the response in real time. Officials credited the quick tag-team of ground crews and air resources for keeping the fire small and away from homes.
Neighborhood context
Monday’s grass fire comes on the heels of other recent incidents in the area, including a Pacoima salvage yard inferno earlier this week that sent a smoke column over the North San Fernando Valley and forced firefighters into a defensive posture. Together, they are a pointed reminder of how quickly roadside or industrial fires can threaten nearby neighborhoods and trigger calls for aerial support.
How residents and drivers can stay informed
Drivers on the westbound 118 may encounter slowdowns when firefighters are working an active incident and are urged to give emergency vehicles plenty of space to maneuver. For maps, real-time information, and subscriber alerts, residents can sign up through the Los Angeles Fire Department alerts page. LAFD and CHP investigators will continue working to determine what sparked Monday night’s grass fire.
