Sepulveda Pass fire burns more than 80 acres; Getty, college evacuated [Updated]

[Updated 5:20 p.m.:Authorities say a stubborn brush fire near the Getty Center is 20% contained, while foggy and humid conditions are expected to help keep the fire in check this evening.] 

A stubborn brush fire continued to burn this afternoon in the Sepulveda Pass, forcing the evacuation of the Getty Center and Mount St. Mary's College and jamming traffic on the 405 Freeway.

The fire was reported at 12:44 p.m and was estimated to have burned about 80 acres of dense brush in a remote section of the Santa Monica Mountains. Fire officials said it is not threatening structures at this time but continues to burn out of control.

The fire broke out in the 1200 block of Getty Center Drive, said spokesman Erik Scott of the Los Angeles Fire Department. He said no injuries have been reported and no structures are being threatened.

 Inside the museum, Chuck Bunnell, a visitor at the Getty, said in a phone interview that he was in the southern tower when he learned of the fire.

“They made us stand outside in the front entrance of the building,” said Bunnell, adding that they were given bottles of water and umbrellas.

Driving past the fire on the northbound 405 Freeway, Bunnell watched helicopters dive into the hillside and drop water.

“The helicopters are doing some great dives,” he said.

At Mount St. Mary's, no classes were in session, but 200 people renting out facilities there are being removed. About 100 staffers were also taken out.

More than 200 firefighters were battling the blaze.

--Ruben Vives

Photo: (Top) A helicopter drops water on the brush fire in the Sepulveda Pass just north of the Getty Center. (Bottom) A water dropping helicopter flies over the 405 freeway as northbound traffic was clogged due to the fire. (Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times) >> More photos

Comments

[Upset]

Maybe, just maybe if people would have the common sense to:

1. Not smoke
2. If you are stupid enough to smoke, have the common courtesy and common sense not to fling a lit cigarette out of your car, especially in fire areas

Then maybe fires like this would not happen. While the cause could be arson, my money is on the careless and callous stupidity of a smoker doing what I have seen all too many times: flinging a lit cigarette butt out of their car into dry brush as they drive past, cell phone to their ear and their attention on anything BUT the road.

[Barbara Schwarz]

Just got back to Burbank after 2.5 hours. Arrived at the Getty today with my parents at 12:30 was eating lunch and saw a plume of smoke.Within 15-20 min. they decided to evacuate. It wasn't too bad but not organized at first then they seemed to get it together. We were able to get out or the garage pretty quickly but the drive home was another story.

[Peter]

I like visiting La-La-Land, and even lived down there back in 1983, when things were still "affordable".

But, even then, the traffic, the congestion, the smog and the annual fires were a real downer.

And I'm not rich. Seems like everybody on the Westside now HAS TO BE QUITE RICH, JUST TO DRIVE AROUND THERE !

I'd like to be rich, but it won't happen. And thus...........and I stay up here in Oregon. Soon to be in the pricey Bay Area.

LA's fun to visit............but OY !