Verdugo Mountain Fire Is 60% Contained

A 150-acre brush fire in the Verdugo Mountains north of Glendale was about 60 percent contained today.

The fire was reported at 12:27 p.m. Sunday behind the Brand Library in the 1600 block of West Mountain Street and grew to 150 acres by Monday, said city spokesman Dan Bell. The latest containment figure was estimated about mid- morning today.

Bell said no structures had been damaged and no evacuations ordered as a result of the fire, which burned away from structures and into "very steep, treacherous canyons."

There was no immediate projection on when the fire would be out, though authorities were planning to reopen the lower area of Brand Park, and also the Brand Library, which is in the park, around noon. However, Brand Park hiking trails will remain closed until Friday, officials said.

The blaze was being fought by about 200 firefighters from various agencies, including the Los Angeles City and County fire departments, and the Pasadena, San Gabriel, Montebello, Burbank and Alhambra fire departments. They include rough terrain firefighters, the so-called "Hot Shots" of the U.S. Forest Service.

Some minor injuries were reported, including a firefighter who suffered a scrape and another who suffered a cut when they were hit by a falling rock, Bell said. Another twisted an ankle.

Five hikers were in the area when the fire started. Two walked out of the brush on their own, Bell said, and three others were airlifted to safety.

The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

—City News Service