At around 2:30 Friday afternoon alarms sounded that a brush fire was rapidly growing in the Chevy Chase / Glenoaks Canyon divisions of Glendale and was dubbed the “Canyon Fire.” Burbank fire units quickly joined nearly 200 firefighters from Glendale, LA County, LA City, Sierra Madre, and other area departments in the fight to knock the fire down, which was threatening more than 2000 residents.
Residents and families were visible rushing out of the evacuation zone near the intersection of Glenoaks and Harvey. Several distraught family members tried unsuccessfully to return to the area to look for loved ones, however were turned back by Glendale Police. Fire had passed underneath the 2 Freeway, extending to Harvey Drive.
A well-coordinated effort between air units and ground units gained the upper hand by 5 p.m.. According to Glendale Fire Department representatives approximately 75 acres burned. Two firefighters suffered heat exhaustion. People and traffic were diverted from the area, and both the 2 and 134 Freeways were disrupted.
