Evacuations Lifted As Crews Make Progress On Portola Fire

BNEDICT CANYON, CA — Los Angeles Firefighters are furiously battling a brush fire that broke out in the Benedict Canyon area, scorching more than 32-40 acres and threatening homes in the celebrity enclave.

As the quick moving fire burns uphill, threatening homes, evacuations were ordered, But crews made progress as the evening progressed and the evacuations are expected to lift by 8 p.m. By 7:30 p.m., the blaze was 25 percent contained and firefighters had the upper hand, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart. Fire officials said the fire was sparked by a "weed wacker" being used by a contractor clearing brush in the rear of a home in the 9800 block of Portola Drive.

Two firefighters, both men, were taken to a hospital, one for heat exhaustion and the other for a minor burn injury, Stewart said.

Five helicopters made water drops and four fixed-wing aircraft dropped retardant on ridge lines and crews fought to contain the blaze within Benedict Canyon Drive to the west, San Ysidro Drive to the east, Yoakum Drive to the north and Portola Drive to the south, Scott said.

More than 250 firefighters were at the scene three hours after the flames erupted and sent smoke looming over the area east of Bel-Air.

Around 85 homes were affected by evacuation orders or warnings. The evacuations were ordered along San Ysidro Drive between Milboro Place and Beeson Drive. Beeson and Milboro were also being evacuated west of San Ysidro Drive. An evacuation center was set up at UCLA's Wooden Center, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Benedict Canyon was closed for northbound traffic at Tower Road, and San Ysidro Drive was closed at Pickfair Way, according to the Beverly Hills Police Department. Nearby residents will be allowed with proper identification, police said.

The fire was spreading behind homes on the 9800 block of Portola Drive and threatening homes on Yoakum Drive as well, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart. The fire was backing up to Benedict Canyon Drive, and it burned more than 32 acres by 4:35 p.m. Residents living nearby should be prepared to flee at a moment's notice, authorities warned.

The blaze broke out just before 2 p.m. Tuesday, and more than 200 firefighters and helicopters water drop plane were immediately called in to attack the blaze. Authorities do not yet know how many acres have burned nor number of homes threatened in the steep terrain, said Stewart.

Thick smoke could be seen across the city from the Westside to the Valley.

"This serves as a strong reminder to residents to only use licensed contractors who follow the safety requirements to include no metal blades and extinguishing agent at hand," Stewart said of the fire's cause. "The exhaust manifolds (on weed trimmers and brush cutters) can get very hot and is the likely cause of the fire."

The spinning metal blades of brush cutters often throw sparks when they contact rocks during clearance work.

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File Photo courtesy of the Los Angeles Fire Department. City News Service contributed to this report.