Two Brush Fires Contained In Granada Hills
UPDATE | April 28, 2015 12:37 p.m.: LAFD has confirmed that the cause of the Granada Hills brush fire was a spark from a homeowner's tool that was clearing brush. The homeowner tried to contain the fire with his jacket before winds spread it and scorched 40 acres. The cause of the brush fire that happened hours later in Mission Hills has not been identified.
A brush fire broke out in the Grenada Hills neighborhood of Los Angeles around 11 a.m. Monday morning. Shortly after it was nearing containment, a separate fire erupted just four miles to the east, near Mission Hills.
The initial fire began in a small valley and quickly spread toward nearby homes. Firefighters dispatched to the scene were able to contain the flames though ground and air crews.
A family in a nearby home said the fast actions of the Los Angeles Fire Department saved their home.
"We're so thankful for these guys. They're angels," said homeowner Jasmin Avedian.
At the site of the second fire, officials closed off streets as crews battled the biggest opponent to extinguishing the fire: strong winds. At times, gusts were exceeding 30 miles-per-hour in the direction of homes, challenging containment efforts.
Eventually, both fires were contained before any damage to homes or serious injuries. LAFD spokesman Brian Humphrey said that the fires are an indicator of what could be a dangerous fire season.
"The grass and brush in Los Angeles is near the conditions we typically see well into July," said Humphrey.
He added that the causes of the fires are still under investigation.