A brush fire raced up the hillside below the Huntington Palisades.
Los Angeles and Santa Monica Firefighters mounted an attack by ground and air on the burning brush in steep terrain below the Huntington Palisades on February 10.
The fire was reported at 6:01 p.m. and two lanes of Pacific Coast Highway headed north (west) were initially closed to traffic.
Water drops were made at the Friday fire below the Huntington Palisades.
According to LAFD spokesperson Nicholas Prange, it took 50 minutes to snuff out the flames and hold the burning brush to 1. 5 acres. Crews remained on scene to ensure any hot spots were eliminated. There were no reported injuries, and the cause of fire is under investigation.
It was pitch black around 6:30 p.m., when this CTN editor walked to the LAFD Battalion station in the Will Rogers Parking lot, near the lifeguard headquarters, that was across from the fire.
Although officials couldn’t give cause, this editor jokingly pointed out that firefighters most likely could rule out lightening and electrical wiring.
The left CTN’s editor, a Nancy Drew detective, to suggest that perhaps someone had thrown a cigarette or a candle over the 10-foot wall to start the fire. Or perhaps it was just started by a homeless individual. LAFD Officials could not comment.
Pacific Palisades Senior Lead Officer Brian Espin was also onsite.
Espin told CTN that the beach patrol had been behind the wall on Thursday, February 9, in the early a.m. and there were no encampments or other signs of anyone there.
The beach patrol actively goes into the hillsides of Pacific Palisades and warns and cites people who are camping illegally.
Last week, the detail found three people with felony warrant parole violations, and they were booked.
But until the courts and jails change policy it appears to be “catch and release” for many criminals.
Earlier, that afternoon, this editor had visited with Espin when he was at the Palisades Recreation Center.
He was there because it has been reported that there are teenaged boys, who fight in the picnic area below the library, the “fight club.” There are also teenagers the “White Claw” crew, who bring alcohol to the park. By being on site, Espin was deterring both activities.
By 6:30 p.m. the fire was out, but firefighters stayed on scene looking for hot spots.