Skirball Fire caused by illegal cooking fire at encampment, LAFD says

Tuesday, December 12, 2017
The Skirball Fire in the Bel Air area was caused by an illegal cooking fire at an area encampment, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
BEL AIR, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- The Skirball Fire in the Bel Air area was caused by an illegal cooking fire at a nearby encampment, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.

Fire officials released a statement on Tuesday, saying investigators determined that the blaze was caused by an illegal cooking fire at an encampment in a brush area adjacent to where Sepulveda Boulevard crosses under the 405 Freeway.
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"It does appear as if people were sleeping and cooking in that area. The fire department was not aware of this encampment prior to the fire," Capt. Erik Scott said.

VIDEO: Skirball Fire destroys homes near Getty Center
Skirball Fire chars 475 acres, destroys homes near Getty Center


The Skirball Fire, which erupted last Wednesday in the Sepulveda Pass near the Getty Center, burned 422 acres of grass and brush, destroyed six homes and damaged 12 others in the Bel Air area.

No one was at the scene of the fire's origin when firefighters arrived. No one has been arrested.



The fire is currently 85 percent contained with 69 fire personnel still working on scene to achieve 100 percent containment, LAFD officials said.
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PHOTOS: Skirball fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass near Getty Center
The bedroom of a home is engulfed in flames from the Skirball fire along Linda Flora Drive on December 6, 2017 in Bel-Air, California.none
A firefighter works to save burning houses along Linda Flora Drive during the Skirball Fire in Los Angeles, California, December 6, 2017.none
The Getty Center lies shrouded in smoke as firefighters keep watch on a nearby canyon from the terraces of homes in the Bel Air district on Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017.none
Firefighters station engines on Bel Terrace and a helicopter prepares to make a water drop as the Skirball wildfire threatens the Bel Air district of Los Angeles, Dec. 6, 2017.none
A Los Angeles County Fire Dept. helicopter makes a water drop on flames sweeping up a steep canyon wall, threatening homes on a ridge line in the Bel Air district of Los Angeles.none
Flames sweep up a steep canyon wall, threatening homes on a ridge line as the Skirball wildfire swept through the Bel Air district of Los Angeles Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2017.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none
The Skirball Fire burns in the Sepulveda Pass along the 405 Freeway.none


At the height of the flames, 700 homes and an apartment building in the Bel Air area were evacuated. All mandatory evacuations and road closures have since been lifted, fire officials said.

Mayor Eric Garcetti declared a local state of emergency in response to the Skirball Fire, as he had done in connection with the Creek Fire near Sylmar and Lake View Terrace.

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