118 Freeway Median Catches Fire, Affects 5 And 405

MISSION HILLS, CA -- Heavy smoke from a grass fire cloaked three freeways in dangerous limited visibility conditions in the north end of the San Fernando Valley Sunday. The median landscaping of the Ronald Reagan (118) Freeway caught fire at 12:48 p.m. The department dispatched 25 firefighters to the scene.

The fire was "knocked down" 29 minutes later, according to Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey.

No injuries were reported. No evacuations occurred and no structures were threatened, Humphrey said.

Firefighters had blocked the left lanes on both directions of the 118 freeway, between the San Diego (405) and Golden State (5) freeways.

Other lanes and transition ramps on the 5 and 405 freeways were also blocked off, CHP officers said.

The fire burned a quarter acre in and under the interchange at the 118 and 5 freeways, firefighters said.

The cause of the fire remained under investigation, Humphrey added.