Wind-driven vegetation fire breaks out on side of 5 Fwy in Sun Valley, spreads to nearby building

SUN VALLEY, LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Wind-driven flames that started in vegetation adjacent to the 5 Freeway in Sun Valley spread into a metal-clad building Saturday evening and escalated into a major emergency with a battle on the ground and in the air.

The blaze, which was called the Penrose Fire, was first reported at 7:39 p.m. in the 11200 block of West Penrose Street.
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Video captured the massive flames and a plume of smoke filling the air. The strong winds pushed the flames, causing the fire to quickly spread to buildings at a nearby auto business.

The danger increased when winds carried embers across the freeway, igniting vegetation on the west side and forcing the California Highway Patrol to temporarily shut down the freeway in both directions.

The fire department said a hazmat crew was called due to the combustible materials inside the burning structures and the automobiles at the business.

No injuries were reported.
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The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.