Brush fire near LA Zoo in Griffith Park burns 30 acres

ByDenise Dador and ABC7.com staff KABC logo
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Brush fire near LA Zoo in Griffith Park burns 30 acres
A small brush fire has erupted near the Los Angeles Zoo in the Griffith Park area early Friday, prompting the closure of the popular tourist spot for the day.

GRIFFITH PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- A small brush fire erupted near the Los Angeles Zoo in the Griffith Park area early Friday, prompting the closure of the popular tourist spot for the day.

The acreage of the fire was estimated to be about 30 acres after burning through heavy brush with "steep and very difficult" terrain, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. The blaze was 60 percent contained as of Friday afternoon, and flames were no longer visible.

LAFD officials said one firefighter was transported to a nearby hospital with a non-life-threatening laceration injury.

LAFD officials said strong winds were not a factor in the firefight, which at one point involved more than 150 firefighters and two helicopters.

The popular L.A. Zoo was closed to the public for the day. Staff evacuated bird show animals and some smaller primates, the zoo said in a tweet, adding that it doesn't appear the fire's smoke is causing issues for other animals. The zoo later said no animals were harmed.

Tall, white plumes of smoke were spotted behind the zoo when the blaze erupted.

No structures were burned or damaged.

The blaze sparked amid two major fires burning at the Los Angeles-Ventura County border. The Woolsey Fire has charred thousands of acres and destroyed several homes.