A blaze in the Santa Monica Mountains was 100 percent contained on Sunday, according to the LAFD.
Early reports suggested the Rustic Canyon fire grew to consume as much as 30 acres by Saturday afternoon, but a survey showed 7 acres of very steep terrain were charred by the fire, said Erik Scott with LAFD.
Firefighters received reports of a 5-acre fire at 12:28 p.m. Saturday in the 3000 block of Rustic Canyon Road (map), a residential area nestled in the rugged Santa Monica Mountains on the edge of Topanga State Park.
About 200 firefighters battled the blaze amid a punishing heat wave that saw temperatures in the area reach 105 degrees.
About 50 firefighters remained at the scene Sunday morning and temperatures in the area had dropped significantly by then. As of 10 a.m., the mercury had reached 78 degrees. Sunday’s forecasted high for the area was 88 degrees.
A single water drop was made Sunday morning, Scott said.
The blaze was classified as “topography driven” as it was located in a steep, rugged area of the coastal mountain chain. The fire’s “rate of speed” through medium-to-heavy brush was reported as “very slow” Sunday morning.
Local
Get Los Angeles's latest local news on crime, entertainment, weather, schools, COVID, cost of living and more. Here's your go-to source for today's LA news.
Four firefighters suffered non life-threatening injuries. They were transported to the hospital and have since been released. No other injuries were reported and the fire did not threaten any structures, fire officials said.
Residents were encouraged to prepare themselves for evacuation though no formal orders to leave the area were issued.
Still, Cheyenne Price, founder of Rustic Canyon Ranch horse rescue, said on Saturday she planned to evacuate her employees and 10 horses as soon as firefighters let them out.
"There's only one way in and one way out," she said, adding that some 100 campers were at Camp Josepho, next door to the horse rescue.
In an emailed alert Saturday, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said "campers + staff at Camp Josepho are sheltered in place and NOT in harm's way."
The Rustic Canyon fire broke out while fire crews were mopping up a brush fire in the Sepulveda Pass.
That fire broke out at about 3:30 p.m. Friday, just before the evening commute, east of the 405 Freeway near Getty Center Drive and Sepulveda Boulevard, above one of the nation's busiest freeway sections.
The cause of the Sepulveda Fire is under investigation, officials said. There were no injuries or damage reported.
