WHITTIER — About 125 firefighters got the upper hand on a *5*-acre brush fire burning in WhittierM Thursday, authorities said.
The fire was first reported about 5 p.m. on the east side of Colima Road, just north of Mar Vista Street, Los Angeles County Fire and Whittier police officials said. Fire officials erroneously reported Thursday that the fire had grown to 45 acres.
No structures were immediately threatened by the blaze, though officials were concerned about the fire’s proximity to some buildings in places like Skyline Drive and Aurora Crest Drive, officials said.
“It appears that they are getting the upper hand on it,” Los Angeles County Fire Department Inspector Fred Stowers said.
The fire had been completely contained as of 8 p.m., fire officials said.
Stowers added that the area where the fire was burning exhibited, “some pretty steep terrain and some pretty thick brush.” Winds in the area blew at 6 to 8 mph.
Four helicopters, one large helitanker and two fixed-wing airplanes were brought in to drop water on the fire from above Thursday afternoon, Stowers said.
Whittier police Lt. Steve Dean said no evacuations were needed due to the fire, though the blaze did wreak havoc on the afternoon commute.
“It hit when everyone was driving home, unfortunately,” he said.
Officials closed down northbound Colima Road at Whittier Boulevard in Whittier and southbound Colima Road at Casino Drive in Hacienda Heights during the fire.
The exact point of ignition wasn’t clear, Stowers said. The blaze may have had as many as three points of origin.
The cause of the fire was under investigation.