HOLLYWOOD HILLS (CNS) - Firefighters continued to work today to clear a ring of vegetation around an 80-acre brush fire in the Hollywood Hills near Burbank and Universal City, fire officials said.
The Barham Fire was 80 percent contained as of Sunday night and firefighters expected to increase that perimeter, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Nicholas Prange said.
Looking ahead to Tuesday, “Officials anticipate reducing the LAFD presence to a 'patrol only' status and reopening Forest Lawn Dr.,” Prange said.
“Smoke seen in the area is originating from smoldering objects inside of the containment area and is currently not a threat,” he said.
“The terrain is very steep and the mop up will be a slow, methodical process to eliminate hot spots and smoldering debris. Water drops by air will continue to aid in completing this objective,” Prange said.
The Barham Fire was reported at 1:52 p.m. Saturday at 3694 North Barham Blvd., said Brian Humphrey of the Los Angeles Fire Department.
There were no civilian injuries, Humphrey said.
“One male firefighter sustained a non-life threatening injury to his arm and leg injury during the firefight and is being taken to an area hospital for first care,” Humphrey said.
No structures were damaged or threatened, and no formal evacuations were ordered but “a handful of persons living closest to the fire, and being affected by smoke only, were directly contacted and encouraged to shelter in place at their residence” on Saturday, Humphrey said.
The flames burned near the Warner Bros. studio and a spokesperson told The Hollywood Reporter the lot was evacuated Saturday afternoon “as a precautionary measure.”
Forest Lawn Drive remained closed between Barham and the Ventura Freeway.
The cause of the blaze remained under investigation.