LOS ANGELES _ Firefighters early Wednesday were battling a 50-acre wildfire near the 405 Freeway in Bel-Air, prompting freeway closures and mandatory evacuations, authorities said.
The Los Angeles Police Department has ordered the evacuation of homes along Casiano Road, Moraga Drive and Linda Flora Drive. Residents of Mandeville Canyon and Sullivan Canyon should be prepared for evacuation the department said.
The fire has also caused massive gridlock along one of the city's most congested intersections. Caltrans announced that it closed all northbound lanes of the 405 Freeway and had also closed all onramps onto the 405 north of the 10 Freeway.
The fire, which was first reported to be in the Brentwood neighborhood, ignited shortly before 5 a.m. and was moving uphill, said the fire department.
The fire was burning on the east side of the 405 Freeway across from the Getty Center, where winds were up to 25 miles per hour.
Officials said more than 125 firefighters were on the scene and that water-dropping helicopters were being used.
The fire started near the 405 and was burning near homes at the top of the ridge. Fire officials urged people living nearby to evacuate.
