Firefighters contain large brush fire burning in the Sepulveda Basin, many homeless displaced
VAN NUYS, Calif. (FOX 11) - Firefighters battled a large brush fire in the Sepulveda Basin Tuesday afternoon that scorched at least five acres.
An accurate acreage figure is pending, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. Forward progress on the fire was stopped shortly after 5 p.m.
The Victory Fire, as it's being called, broke out just after 3:30 in the 6300 block of N. Balboa Boulevard.
There was a small homeless encampment that was consumed by flames. As many as 100 homeless people are living in the burn area. Homeless services officials are being called to the scene to help relocate them.
Councilwoman Nury Martinez of District 6 said in a statement:
"Our homeless-service outreach in the area has been in effect for the past month. We are scheduled to begin an extensive cleanup on the City of Los Angeles section of the basin this Monday through Saturday.
"Simultaneously, we will continue our efforts to work with state and federal authorities for their approval to clean the rest of the basin, which is under their jurisdiction, as soon as possible."
No injuries were reported despite some-propane tank explosions in the area.
The Metro Orange Line busway was shut down between White Oak and Woodley avenues to give fire crews access to the area.
No structures were threatened and no evacuation orders were issued, according to fire officials.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
CNS, Oscar Flores contributed to this story