Brush fire near 101 Freeway spreads to 18 acres, prompts voluntary evacuation in Hollywood Hills

More than 200 firefighters battled a brush fire that broke out Tuesday afternoon and swiftly spread to 18 acres, authorities said.

The blaze was reported about 3 p.m. near the northbound 101 Freeway and Cahuenga Boulevard, according to Margaret Stewart, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Fire Department.

The grass fire tore through moderate brush on a hillside near the John Anson Ford Amphitheatre and pushed toward San Marcos Drive, a ribbon of homes in one of the city’s most exclusive neighborhoods. The blaze sent a plume of smoke that was visible in Los Angeles, Burbank and surrounding communities.

Aerial teams scooped water from the Hollywood Reservoir and dumped it on the flames.

Residents along Holly Drive were under a voluntary evacuation order, Stewart said.

As of 6 p.m., the blaze was 50% contained and fire officials estimated that crews would need several hours to fully contain the flames.

No homes were damaged and no injuries were reported, Stewart said. It’s unclear what sparked the fire.

Downed power lines were also reported in the area. Motorists were warned to be prepared for delays in the Cahuenga Pass.

The northbound lanes of Cahuenga Boulevard were closed at Odin Street, and commuters were advised to take Highland Avenue to the 101 Freeway. The exit and entry ramps to the northbound 101 Freeway were also closed until further notice, according to the California Highway Patrol.

The National Weather Service reported that the area around the fire saw southeast winds gusting to 5 mph and a temperature of 86 degrees.

This article will be updated.

For more news in California, follow @MattHjourno.

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UPDATES:

6:05 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details on the size of the fire.

4:35 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details on local weather conditions and a voluntary evacuation order.

4:15 p.m.: This article was updated with the size of the fire.

4:00 p.m.: This article was updated with additional details.

This article was originally published at 3:45 p.m.