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Firefighters Prevail Over Stubborn Mandeville Fire

Tuesday, May 30, 2017
LAFD Spokesperson: Margaret Stewart
Fire engines defending home against approaching brush fire
Fire crews prepared to defend home against encroaching flames
Photo Credits: Photo Credits: Creative Commons Licensed For Your Use: LAFD Photo | Eric French
LOS ANGELES-
Nearly 60 hours of non-stop work by a total of over 300 firefighters prevailed against a stubborn fire in the Mandeville Canyon.
 
At 12:46PM on Sunday, May 28, 2017 the Los Angeles Fire Department responded to a reported brush fire at 2969 N Mandeville Canyon Road in Brentwood.  Upon arrival, firefighters found 3-4 acres of fire in medium to heavy brush, burning uphill.   The fire created a large loom-up, visible across much of the city.  
 
The steep terrain and vegetation presented challenges for the ground crews in establishing hose lines to attack the fire.  While firefighters were hard at work, water-dropping helicopters from both the LAFD and Los Angeles County Fire Department began conducting targeted drops to slow the forward progress of the fire. 
 
As the fire grew to over 10 acres, Assistant Chief Patrick Butler requested additional resources, raising this to a Major Emergency Response.  Five camp crews from Los Angeles County Fire and a strike team from LA area agencies (Santa Monica Fire, Beverly Hills Fire, Culver City Fire and Mountains Recreation and Convervation Authority) joined in the fight.  The fire burned within less than 200’ of homes near the point of origin but the quick work of firefighters combined with the good brush clearance established by the residents prevented any damage to the structures. 
 
Our partners, the Los Angeles Police Department ensured the safety of residents and protected our ability to maneuver fire apparatus as needed by maintaining the closure of Mandeville Canyon Road at Sunset for much of the day.  Understanding the great imposition placed on those living in the canyon, the LAFD worked closely with the LAPD and by 10:00PM, was able to re-open the road to residents so they could return to their homes.
 
Firefighters worked quickly to quell the immediate danger from active flames and by day two, achieved 95% containment.  The final 5% would take another full 24hrs due to safety concerns.  Traversing the steep terrains and applying water to churn up the dirt and ensure no hot embers resulted in dangerous footing.  Some areas experiences falling rocks and 'shale slides', which put firefighters at risk.  Consequently, water dropping helicopters continued to play an important role.  They hit the areas too steep for firefighters to reach by ground while the crews focused on getting hose in place to fully encircle the burn.
 
Although the fire was fully contained by Tuesday evening, the laborious task of picking up over 10,000 feet of hose line layed out across the canyon remains to be tackled by fresh crews reporting on Wednesday morning, 31 May.
 

The cause of the fire was determined to be accidental, related to the use of equipment while performing proper brush clearance.  This serves as a good reminder of the importance of brush clearance but the need to conduct it with three important tips in mind:

1)      Avoid conducting brush clearance during peak hot times (this occurred just before 1PM)

2)      When using lawn care equipment in brush areas, avoid use of metal blades which can cause sparks

3)      Always have a fire extinguisher or water source readily available so if a spark does ignite a fire, you can put it out while it’s small and prevent spread

For additional guidance and resources, please visit LAFD Brush Clearance.

Lower photo credit: Photo Credits:  Creative Commons Licensed For Your Use: LAFD Photo | Erik Scott

Dispatched units:E19  RA19  E69  E237  T37  E59  E71  E83  E23  H0F  H0B  RA90  EM9  BC9  BC18  T69  E269  BP19  E109  E292  T92  E43  E62  CM42  BC5  E58  E261  T61  E263  T63  E105  E99  BC11  HU59  BC10  E293  T93  BC14  E8136  E8139  E8140  E8137  E108  TP1  DT1  DZ11  WT88  E8138  RI100  RI200  H2  RA90  SU2  HU84  RA71  RA83  EM11  E90  T90  E290  HT1  AR2  E12  E26  E95  E29  E10  RA37  RM4  AR12  AR11  H7  H7  AO2  HL1  HL4  CP2  HL2  BC12  HU114  HT2  RA90  E64  E2  E61  E49  RA892  RA844  BP44  BC1  BC15  E39  E60  E33  E5  RA896  BP8  E3  E11  RA867  RT59  E15  EM11  E94  EM1  RA23  UR88  EA1  BP23  E2  BC6  E89  E21  E29  E37  E48  WT88  E63  E66  E95  E87  E12  E10  E26  E93  E98  RA58  BC2  BC5  EM11  RA3  RA77  CW3B  BC18  WT77  BC5  T87  E287  E8137  T98  E298  E8140  T88  E288  E8138  E35  E8136  T89  E289  E8139  E90  E84  RA94  BP78  E85  E105  E5  BC9  BC10  BP44  E69  BC15  E63  EM11  E48  WT77  E3  E10  E11  E26  E27  E37  E94  E9  E39  E60  E93  BC6  BC5  BP47  BC11  BP28  WT88  RA17  RA19  RA92  CM42  E35  RA83  CM42  AO2  H0C  E90  T90  H1  E84  E90  E35  BC9  E71  H1  

 

 

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