Car crash likely sparked Burbank hillside brush fire, officials say; driver detained and questioned

BURBANK, Calif. (KABC) -- Fire crews battled a brush fire on the Verdugo Mountain hillside near homes above Burbank on Saturday, triggering evacuation orders for some nearby businesses.

The Walnut Fire first broke out in the 1500 block of E. Walnut Avenue near DeBell Golf Course and Wildwood Canyon Park around 3 p.m. on Saturday. It rapidly grew within just a few minutes.

In the latest update, crews said the fire was approximately 40 acres and 70% contained.

By 7:10 p.m., forward progress had been stopped. Fire officials noted that the fight was difficult with steep terrain and access issues.

According to the city of Burbank, one firefighter was taken to an area hospital to treat non-life-threatening injuries.

A crash was reported nearby at 1200 E. Harvard Road about three minutes before the fire was first reported, and crews are now investigating the single-vehicle crash as the possible cause of the fire. The driver of the vehicle was detained and questioned, officials said.

Video from the scene shows a burned-out car crashed on the side of the road. The car was incinerated, along with the surrounding brush.

"Definitely, the traffic accident had something to do with it," said Burbank Fire Chief Joey Petteys. "The driver of that vehicle has been detained, questioned and released."

At the height of the blaze, video from the nearby neighborhood showed smoke billowing into the air. Another video from DeBell Golf Course showed heavy flames burning nearby, forcing golfers to evacuate mid-game. By 5 p.m., the smoke plume had dissipated significantly thanks to heavy water drops.

A leisurely hike for some almost turned into a rescue mission.

"The way that we came from, it looked like that's where the fire was. So we just decided we should probably just keep climbing up. We called 911," said hiker Michael Yegiazryan. "I think they sent the helicopter out for us. That's what they said. But we found a way down, and we got down to the road eventually."

Evacuation orders were in place for DeBell Restaurant and Golf Course and Stough Canyon Nature Center, but have since been lifted. An evacuation warning previously issued for Churches Court and Country Club Drive has also been lifted, according to city officials.

Hiking trails will remain closed until further notice, and the Starlight Bowl concert scheduled for Saturday has been canceled, according to the city of Burbank.

Crews will remain at the scene all night and all day on Sunday, working to further containment and mop up hot spots.