KTLA News
LOS ANGELES -- A portion of Sepulveda Boulevard that was closed because of an 80-acre brush fire near the Getty Center was reopened today, as firefighters had the blaze 90 percent contained, a fire official said.
The CHP also reopened the San Diego (405) Freeway's Getty Center Drive onramps and offramps, which also had been closed.
The blaze, which was accidentally sparked by a brush clearance crew around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, prompted the precautionary evacuation of about 800 staff members and 1,600 visitors from the Getty Center Wednesday.
The museum remained closed today, but was expected to reopen for its normal visiting hours at 10 a.m. Friday.
The blaze has burned at least 80 acres, according to Los Angeles City Fire Department spokesman Eric Scott.
About 350 firefighters worked on rugged slopes and seven helicopters pounded flames with repeated water drops. Some of the helicopters were able to reload from nearby Stone Canyon Reservoir.
Trams took museum visitors down the hill to parking lots so they could drive out the south gate, he said.
Mt. St. Mary's College, which is located about a mile west of the Getty Center, also evacuated school grounds.
Classes are not currently in session, but 100 staff members and about 200 people who were attending a conference at the school were evacuated, according to officials at the school.
No structures were damaged or destroyed. One firefighter suffered a minor foot injury. No other injuries were reported.
The Getty Center opened in 1997 on ridges above Interstate 405, which runs through the Sepulveda Pass.
It is world-famous for its gardens, conservation and research work and its museum, which holds a number of famous works, including Vincent Van Gogh's painting "Irises."
Mount St. Mary's campus was damaged by the disastrous Bel Air-Brentwood wildfire of November 1961, which destroyed 484 homes and 21 other buildings.
The CHP also reopened the San Diego (405) Freeway's Getty Center Drive onramps and offramps, which also had been closed.
The blaze, which was accidentally sparked by a brush clearance crew around 12:45 p.m. Wednesday, prompted the precautionary evacuation of about 800 staff members and 1,600 visitors from the Getty Center Wednesday.
The museum remained closed today, but was expected to reopen for its normal visiting hours at 10 a.m. Friday.
The blaze has burned at least 80 acres, according to Los Angeles City Fire Department spokesman Eric Scott.
About 350 firefighters worked on rugged slopes and seven helicopters pounded flames with repeated water drops. Some of the helicopters were able to reload from nearby Stone Canyon Reservoir.
Trams took museum visitors down the hill to parking lots so they could drive out the south gate, he said.
Mt. St. Mary's College, which is located about a mile west of the Getty Center, also evacuated school grounds.
Classes are not currently in session, but 100 staff members and about 200 people who were attending a conference at the school were evacuated, according to officials at the school.
No structures were damaged or destroyed. One firefighter suffered a minor foot injury. No other injuries were reported.
The Getty Center opened in 1997 on ridges above Interstate 405, which runs through the Sepulveda Pass.
It is world-famous for its gardens, conservation and research work and its museum, which holds a number of famous works, including Vincent Van Gogh's painting "Irises."
Mount St. Mary's campus was damaged by the disastrous Bel Air-Brentwood wildfire of November 1961, which destroyed 484 homes and 21 other buildings.
