Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Wind-Fanned Brush Fire in Eaton Canyon Quickly Knocked Down Monday Afternoon

A wind-fanned fire Monday afternoon in Eaton Canyon adjacent to the Henninger Flats trailhead and across the street from residential neighborhoods drew a quick, multi-agency response which doused the flames within about an hour.

Four Pasadena Fire Department engines joined lead Los Angeles County Fire Department with Glendale and San Marino engines, U.S. Forest Service hand crews and a County helicopter in attacking the 3:42 p.m. blaze, which grew to one acre before containment.

Dozens of hikers who had been in the Canyon and mountains self-evacuated. There were no reported injuries.

Altadena Drive was closed to traffic a short distance north of New York Drive, and a number of nearby residential streets were also shut down. The blaze was close to where Midwick Drive dead ends into Altadena Drive.

Eaton Canyon Nature Center was quickly closed and the parking lot evacuated.

By 4:22 p.m., the forward-progress of the fire had been stopped, officials said. The callup for a full response, which would have included significantly more equipment and personnel, was canceled.

The fire was completely knocked down at about 4:45 p.m., a County official said.

Ground crews with shovels and axes remained on scene for hours to watch for flare-ups.