Helicopters Quell Brush Fire in Montecito Heights

Helicopters and ground crews quelled a grassfire in the hills of Montecito Heights today.

About a half acre of hillside was spotted burning at 1:13 p.m., Los Angeles Fire Department spokesperson Shawn Lenske said. The fire was on Avenue 33 near Griffin Avenue, a section of open space and parkland where grassfires are a common spring occurrence.

Helicopters dropped water on the fire, which did not spread quickly in mild winds, relatively high humidity and cool temperatures.

Airborne spotters said the only smoke they could spot was from some smoldering trees, about 45 minutes after the fire broke out.

-City News Service Contributed to this report