Griffith Park Brush Fire Burns In Area Fire Engines Can't Reach

While the Woolsey and Hill fires burned thousands of acres in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, L.A. County's Griffith Park faced another small brush fire with smoke that could be seen throughout the surrounding area.

The fire was holding at 30 acres burned for most of the day. Firefighters faced heavy brush, but there was no wind to drive the fire, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. Forward progress of the fire has been stopped, with the fire now 60 percent contained.

A brush fire burns in Griffith Park, as seen from the 134 Freeway, on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (Photo by LAist staff)

It's located in a part of the park that fire engines can't reach, according to the LAFD. Crews had to hike in through difficult terrain and determine how they were going to get water to the fire. Fire crews were set to continue fighting the fire through the night, trying to put out hot spots.

One firefighter was transported to the hospital with a non-life threatening lower extremity injury.

Staff at the Los Angeles Zoo move birds into an indoor classroom to protect them from the smoke from a wildfire burning nearby in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, Nov. 9, 2018. (Photo by Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

The location is to the east and below the park's helicopter landing spot, with reports also noting that it's behind the L.A. Zoo.

The L.A. Zoo will remain closed Friday due to limited access to the area, but they noted that animals and staff were safe. The L.A. Zoo staff evacuated bird show animals and some smaller primates, according to the zoo. They also turned on sprinklers and began hosing down the hillside. However, no evacuation orders were given, according to the LAFD.

Smoke from a wildfire rises over the Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park on Nov. 9, 2018. (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images)

The following off-ramps were closed due to the fire, according to Caltrans:

• Riverside Drive from eastbound 134
• Zoo Drive from westbound 134
• Griffith Park Drive from northbound I-5
• Zoo Drive from northbound I-5

More than 127 LAFD firefighters were assigned, along with additional air and ground support from L.A. County Fire, including hand crews.

When the fire was first spotted, the smoke was visible, but due to its location, crews had a long hike in and couldn't physically see the fire in order to give an estimate of the acreage.

This story has been updated.

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