Sepulveda Basin Fire Scorches 10 Acres, Displaces Homeless Camp

LOS ANGELES, CA — A fast-moving brush fire in the Sepulveda Basin scorched about 10 acres Monday afternoon and displaced a large homeless encampment, burning tents while causing propane tank explosions.

Los Angeles Firefighters worked to get the upper hand on the blaze as homeless aid workers were being called in to help relocate homeless resident displaced in the fire.

To complicate matters, the propane tanks scattered throughout the encampment began exploding as firefighters worked to stop the spread of the fire from nearby homes and schools, according to LAFD spokesman Brian Humphrey. Several small explosions could be seen as the fire burned tents and at least one vehicle.

By about 4:45 p.m., the bulk of the fire was knocked down and no open flames were visible.

The fire Was confined to an area near Balboa Park, and no structures are threatened, according to the Los Angeles Fire Department. However, the LA Metro Orange Line busway has been closed in both directions.

The blaze began as a grass fire at about 3:33 p.m. in the 6300 block of North Balboa Boulevard, but it quickly spread to nearby trees. Los Angeles Fire Department helicopter crews have begun dropping water on the burning trees from above.

Video footage from the scene shows tents and other camping equipment burning along with the brush.

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City News Service contributed to this report.