Crews battle Jasper Fire after 5-acre Calabasas blaze

The Jasper Fire burned 5 acres in the Calabasas area on Wednesday morning after breaking out just before 9:30 a.m. near Las Virgenes Road and Mulholland Highway. Crews were battling the brush fire and working to extinguish flames as thick black smoke rose overhead.

Las Virgenes Road and Mulholland Highway

The Los Angeles County Fire Department said the fire had reached 5 acres after it started near the intersection in the Calabasas area of Los Angeles County. Firefighters responded quickly and began working on the flames soon after the fire broke out.

Calabasas smoke plume

Aerial footage showed clouds of thick black smoke above the fire area. The footage matched the early-morning response as crews concentrated on containing the Jasper Fire in the hillside community.

Wednesday morning response

The brush fire’s small size did not make it routine for residents near the burn area, because it started close to a busy road corridor in Calabasas and drew a fast firefighting response. For people nearby, the practical development was simple: crews were on scene and the fire had already spread across 5 acres by the time it was being attacked.