Brush Fire Spreads Quickly in Encino’s Sepulveda Basin

Encino, California – A brush fire broke out Wednesday afternoon in the Sepulveda Basin area, quickly spreading to surrounding vegetation and palm trees. The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to reports of the blaze at approximately 12:16 p.m. near 6400 N. Balboa Boulevard.

Initially reported as a grass fire, the incident escalated as winds of 5 mph fanned the flames, scorching about 1.5 acres. The fire quickly became a brush fire as it expanded into palm trees and jumped the Orange Line, forcing the LAFD to shut down train service between Woodley and White Oak avenues.

Firefighters faced challenging conditions as they battled the flames, which threatened the Army Recruiting Battalion and nearby vehicles. Videos captured by SkyCAL showed local residents trying to contain the blaze with dirt and water prior to the fire department’s arrival.

As of Thursday afternoon, no structures were reported as directly threatened. However, flames came alarmingly close to vehicles parked in the vicinity. One civilian suffered burn injuries and was treated by paramedics at the scene; the individual’s condition remains unknown.

The fire department reported that aerial operations have begun, with water drops underway as ground crews establish their positions. The situation continues to develop, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.