A brush fire north of the UCLA campus that started this afternoon has caused many locals to voluntarily evacuate their homes and the Getty Museum.
The fire began around the Sepulveda Pass at the base of the 405 Freeway, and has quickly moved uphill east of the pass near Bel Air, the Los Angeles Times reported this afternoon. The fire has reportedly spread 70 acres, said LAFD spokesman Cecil Manresa on the department’s blog.
About 250 firefighters are out in the hills fighting the blaze, and have a “pretty good handle on the fire,” Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Jamie Moore told the Times. The cause of the fire is unknown, but arson is not believed to be involved at this time.
No injuries or structural damage from the fire has been reported, Manresa said on the blog. Residents in the area and students and staff at Mount St. Mary’s College left voluntarily as a precaution, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Smoke from the fast-moving brush fire can easily be seen from UCLA.
Compiled by Kylie Reynolds, Bruin senior staff.