SEPULVEDA PASS, LOS ANGELES (KABC) — A fire erupted along the 405 Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass, prompting mandatory evacuations as the blaze threatened homes early Monday morning.
The fire broke out and began burning on a hill around 1:30 a.m. close to the southbound side of the 405 Freeway at Getty Center Drive near the Getty Center museum. It quickly burned 75 acres, with the acreage growing to 400 acres.
The California Highway Patrol said homes in the area were being threatened and all off-ramps on the southbound side from Sepulveda to Sunset boulevards were shut down. People were asked to avoid the 405 Freeway as firefighters battled the flames that were threatening homes.
Mandatory evacuations were issued for the MountainGate and Mandeville Canyon communities as early as 2:40 a.m. The freeway remained opened for the moment to allow evacuees to leave the area.
The mandatory evacuation zone was later extended to the west, with Sullivan Fire Road established as the western border, and extending from Chautauqua Boulevard down to Pacific Coast Highway, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Mulholland Drive is acting as northern border and the 405 Freeway remaining the eastern border.
LAFD officials said approximately 3,300 homes were under mandatory evacuation as the fire moved westward.
Mount Saint Mary’s University at 12001 Chalon Rd. was also being evacuated, along with a senior living center at 11999 Chalon Rd., officials said.
Evacuation centers were set up at the Westwood Recreation Center at 1350 South Sepulveda and the Van Nuys/Sherman Oaks Recreation Center at 14201 Huston St.
For animals, evacuation centers were established at West Valley Animal Shelter, 20655 Plummer St., and West L.A. Animal Shelter, 11361 W. Pico Bl.
Evacuation warnings were issued from Mulholland Drive down to Sunset Boulevard and from the 405 Freeway to Pacific Coast Highway.
About 2,600 customers were without power due to the blaze, according to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. The affected area included Bel Air, Brentwood and Westwood. It is unclear when power will be restored.
An emergency alert message was sent around 2:45 a.m. notifying residents of the need to evacuate due to the blaze.
Southern California is bracing for the return of Santa Ana winds as it remains under red flag conditions Monday. Several blazes ravaged the area last week as the combination of Santa Ana winds, low humidity and hot temperatures created dangerous fire conditions.
It was not immediately known what caused the fire.