A brush fire that broke out Thursday afternoon near the 405 Freeway in the Sepulveda Pass has triggered major traffic disruptions and a rapid firefighting response after flames pushed uphill close to the Skirball Cultural Center.
The Los Angeles Fire Department said crews were dispatched at 2:30 p.m. to the area near Mulholland Drive, where the fire was moving uphill through dry vegetation.
Officials reported light winds around 5 miles per hour as firefighters worked to contain the blaze and establish hose lines around the perimeter.
In an afternoon update, authorities said the fire had grown to about four acres.
The incident, described in reports as both a small brush fire and a heavy brush fire in Brentwood, prompted confusion over its characterization but was consistently tied to the same general area near the Skirball Center and the 405 corridor.
While no structures were damaged or threatened, officials said firefighters took an aggressive stance, launching an offensive operation to control the spread.
At least three, and in some reports four, southbound lanes of the 405 Freeway were shut down during the afternoon rush hour, with the California Highway Patrol urging drivers to proceed with caution through the area.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
