HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST, LOS ANGELES, July 24 (KNN) – The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to reports of a vegetation fire in Runyon Canyon Park, located at… Read more "Firefighters Douse Suspicious Fire in Runyon Canyon in Hollywood Hills West"
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HOLLYWOOD HILLS WEST, LOS ANGELES, July 24 (KNN) – The Los Angeles Fire Department responded to reports of a vegetation fire in Runyon Canyon Park, located at approximately 1800 North Fuller Avenue. A witness reported smelling smoke and rushed to locate the source of the fire around 2:15 a.m. Thursday. Firefighters arrived and successfully extinguished multiple hotspots. The fire is currently being treated as suspicious, and LAFD arson investigators arrived at the scene to conduct an investigation.
Stephen Ayers, who was alerted by the smell and found the fire, resides in a nearby apartment building. He spoke with Key News Network on camera and said that while he was sitting in his living room, he sensed a burning odor. Having recently experienced an evacuation due to nearby wildfires, he was playing video games when he noticed what he thought was smoke outside. As the smell of burning wood filled the air, he stepped onto his balcony for a better look.
Though he couldn’t see any visible fire, Ayers decided to alert the fire department. However, when he called the number he had, he discovered it was incorrect and was advised to call 911. After making the call, he jumped a nearby fence to investigate further.
Ayers discovered that a tree had caught fire and that it had already spread to another area down the road. He quickly transitioned to action, explaining the urgency of the situation to emergency services.
Recollecting his anxiety during this alarming moment, Ayers noted that he immediately recalled the chaos of the last evacuation, where he had returned home to find his apartment filled with smoke. He felt a growing sense of urgency and fear, especially considering that it was the middle of the night — something like 2 a.m. — when he deduced that no one would typically be grilling.
“I checked the wind and realized it was blowing in the wrong direction,” he recalled. “That was definitely a bad sign.” He further explained that the smell was distinctly different from barbecue smoke, cementing his concerns.
Ayers also mentioned a recent incident in the area involving a person arrested for setting a palm tree on fire. He speculated that the fires he often sees while hiking might be linked to nearby homeless individuals inadvertently starting fires, adding to his worries.
In the end, Ayers’s quick thinking and selfless actions were noteworthy, standing out as a testament to those who respond in times of crisis.
Zak Holman, Video Journalist / KNN
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