Fast-moving brush fire spreads to 183 acres near Lake View Terrace

Hundreds of firefighters from across the Los Angeles area battled a wind-whipped brush fire Monday that spread to about 183 acres in the hills above Lake View Terrace, authorities said.

The blaze was reported about 2:20 p.m. near the 11300 block of Wheatland Avenue and quickly spread into the Angeles National Forest, blackening the canyons and hills north of Sunland and Pacoima, said Erik Scott, a spokesman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

Officials dubbed it the Wheatland fire and said it was 35% contained as of 7:30 p.m. It’s unclear what sparked the blaze.

Winds that reached 19 mph fanned the flames, Scott said. No structures were threatened, but there are power lines in the area.

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By late Monday, officials said the fire was confined to the Angeles National Forest, east of Kagel Canyon, and the U.S. Forest Service took over as the primary agency leading the firefight.

Flames burned away from homes and the ridges of area hills blocked the blaze’s path, Scott said. Fire officials previously said it had spread to 200 acres but later downgraded the size.

Wheatland Road north of Foothill Boulevard was closed, as was Foothill Boulevard between Wheatland Road and Christy Avenue, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

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The fire sent a plume of black smoke that was visible from area cities, especially to motorists along the 210 Freeway.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued a smoke advisory, warning that residents in the eastern half of the San Fernando Valley and westerly parts of the San Gabriel Valley could see unhealthy air quality.

As of Monday night, wind was pushing smoke toward the San Gabriel Mountains, but a shift in the wind could send smoke into more populated areas, the air management district said.

The fire is expected to be fully contained by Tuesday evening and possibly earlier with the help of light rain in the morning weather forecast.

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UPDATES:

10:29 p.m.: This story was updated with confirmation that the fire stood at 183 acres and that the U.S. Forest Service was the lead agency.

6:30 p.m.: This story was updated with the fire being downgraded to 135 acres and with the SCAQMD issuing a smoke advisory.

5:10 p.m.: This story was updated with the fire measuring 200 acres.

4:58 p.m.: This story was updated throughout with additional details.

This story was originally published at 3:33 p.m.