LOS ANGELES, CA – A brush fire called the Bryson Fire burned about 147 acres in the Santa Monica Mountains north of Malibu and was 17% contained Friday morning after it broke out Thursday afternoon during a Red Flag Warning, according to CAL FIRE and Los Angeles County officials.
The fire started at about 4:41 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 15, near Encinal Canyon Road and Mulholland Highway, according to a Los Angeles County news release issued Oct. 16. CAL FIRE’s incident page lists the start time as 5 p.m. and says the cause is under investigation.
The county said firefighters reached 17% containment with no reported structure loss or damage and only minor injuries to fire personnel. The county release gave the acreage as 146 acres, while CAL FIRE reported 147 acres.
The fire grew to about 200 acres Thursday night, according to initial reports, before updated mapping put it at roughly 146 to 147 acres.
Evacuation orders cover two zones
Evacuation orders are in effect for zones KAN-U017 and SYC-U016-A, according to CAL FIRE. Evacuation warnings cover CRN-U019, LBO-U018, LEO-U015, MAL-C113, MAL-C114, MCR-U021-A, MLK-U020, SYC-U016-B, SYC-U016-C, SYC-U016-D, VST-U046 and WLV-C201.
The county said the orders cover two zones and the warnings twelve more. County agencies had urged residents earlier in the week to identify their evacuation zone and be ready to leave without delay.
Encinal Canyon Road is closed from the City of Malibu to Mulholland Highway, the county said. Lechusa Road is closed between Decker Road and Encinal Canyon Road.
More than 400 firefighters assigned
As of 8:25 a.m. Friday, the fire was active and 147 acres, according to CAL FIRE’s morning incident update. Resources assigned included 64 engines, two helicopters, 11 hand crews and 414 total personnel.
The update said “numerous firefighting air tankers from throughout the State are flying fire suppression missions as conditions allow.”
The fire is managed under a Unified Command of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles County Fire Department.
Shelters open for people and animals
The county said a shelter for residents is open at Agoura High School, 28545 W. Driver Ave., in Agoura Hills. Animals can be taken to the Agoura Animal Care Center at 29525 Agoura Blvd.
Large animals are being accepted at the Pierce College Equestrian Center, 6201 Winnetka Ave., in Woodland Hills.
According to initial reports, the fire started near the Camp Kilpatrick juvenile facility, and 38 youth were moved to Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Hall in Sylmar.
Red Flag Warning preceded the fire
Before the fire, county agencies said in an Oct. 14 advisory that the National Weather Service had issued a Red Flag Warning for much of Los Angeles County from Thursday through Friday night. The advisory said gusts of 50 to 70 mph were forecast in mountain areas, with widespread gusty winds across many valleys and coastal communities.
The Fire Department said it had added staffing and was pre-positioning additional ground and aerial resources.
Gov. Gavin Newsom was briefed on the fire, and the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is coordinating support and resources for local first responders. Newsom had earlier directed CAL FIRE and Cal OES to pre-position resources ahead of the Santa Ana winds.
Power shutoff and neighboring agencies
Southern California Edison began a public safety power shutoff at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday in central and western Malibu. About 36,388 customers in Los Angeles County were without power Thursday night, according to the utility.
Mayor Karen Bass said her office was closely monitoring the fire. She said that while the fire is burning outside the City of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Fire Department has pre-deployed resources across the San Fernando Valley, the Santa Monica Mountains, the Hollywood Hills and West Los Angeles.
Officials urge vigilance
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Red Flag Warnings and a heat advisory would keep fire weather conditions elevated to critical through Saturday, according to the county.
Supervisor Lindsey Horvath thanked the firefighters who “fought through the night” and held the line so that no lives or structures were put in harm’s way despite the winds. At a Friday morning news conference in Westlake Village, she said, “It is still red flag alert,” with conditions lasting at least until Saturday night. She urged residents to “Be vigilant and be prepared.”
Cause under investigation as fire weather continues
The cause of the Bryson Fire remains under investigation, and officials had not announced a timeline for full containment. Evacuation orders and warnings remained in effect Friday, and fire weather conditions are forecast to stay elevated to critical through Saturday.
