Firefighters Standing by Today to Douse Brush Fire Flareups

Los Angeles firefighters were under orders today to guard against flare-ups at the site of a 5-acre weekend brush fire that raged for more than four hours in steep canyons at the western edge of Pacific Palisades.

Firefighters Sunday extinguished the fire in four hours and 19 minutes while keeping the flames from damaging homes and injuring people, Los Angeles Fire Department spokesman Brian Humphrey said today.

The so-called Pali Fire was reported around 12:30 p.m. Sunday west of 17169 Avenida de Santa Ynez, he said, adding that more than 250 firefighters, including some from other departments, battled the blaze and three water- dropping helicopters were deployed.

Mayor Eric Garcetti announced via his Twitter account at 3:44 p.m. Sunday that the fire had been brought under control.

"Great work by over 150 @LAFD personnel in Pacific Palisades today. Fire is under control, but crews will be there all night to keep safe," he tweeted.

The fire burned through about 5 acres of heavy vegetation, Humphrey said, but no evacuations were ordered.

Firefighters credited prompt calls to 911 and local homeowner's compliance with strict fire department brush clearance standards as key factors in their success, Humphrey said. The cause of the blaze was under investigation.

--City News Service