May 24--Dozens of firefighters from across the Los Angeles area were battling a wind-whipped brush fire Monday that spread to about 135 acres in the hills above Lake View Terrace, authorities said.
The blaze was moving uphill near the 11300 block of Wheatland Avenue, blackening the canyons in the Angeles National Forest 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 by 6 p.m.
The fire was burning in a northerly direction, away from homes, and the ridges of area hills were blocking the blaze's path, Scott said. Fire officials previously said it had spread to 200 acres but later downgraded the size.
Winds that reached 19 mph fanned the flames, Scott said. No structures were threatened, but there are power lines in the area.
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, smoke was being pushed toward the San Gabriel Mountains, but a shift in the wind could result in smoke in 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.
More than 100 firefighters, including some from the L.A. County Fire Department, were coordinating to fight the fire.
This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
------
UPDATES:
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.
