[Updated, 8:30 p.m.] Crews achieved “knock down” on the Old Fire brush fire, which eventually spread to 170 acres, around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday night, according to authorities.
Knock down prevents the fire from spreading, but full containment was expected to take several hours more as fire crews worked to place a control line around the full area of the fire, according to Fire Chief Glenn Goulet.
As of 8:15 p.m., the fire was approximately 40 percent contained and not expected to spread, Goulet said.
Crews from several Malibu fire stations were called in to assist with the Calabasas fire, which did not threaten Malibu. Goulet said the Malibu squads would likely remain at the fire area until at least midnight Sunday. Goulet and his team were called in from South Central Los Angeles to cover at Malibu’s Fire Station 70.
A 50-acre brush fire broke out Sunday afternoon near the 101 freeway in Calabasas, shutting down the westbound side of the freeway and backing up traffic for miles. The fire was reportedly caused when flames from a burning vehicle on the side of the westbound lanes spread to nearby brush. No structures were immediately threatened.
The fire was not a threat to Malibu, according to Malibu Fire Chief Battalion Norris, who said the fire would have to jump the freeway to get to Malibu.
The fire broke out near the 101 North onramp at Las Virgenes Road and was first reported around 3 p.m. As of 5:20 p.m., the flames were 35 percent contained, according to authorities, and remained at 50 acres.
Traffic on the 101 appeared to be backed up starting at Topanga Canyon Boulevard.