A brush fire along the 405 Freeway near the Getty Center sent a towering plume of smoke across the Sepulveda Pass Wednesday afternoon, September 9, 2026, prompting evacuation warnings and a large firefighting response in West Los Angeles.
The blaze, identified as the Getty Fire, was first reported at approximately 4:15 p.m. near Getty Center Drive in the Brentwood and Bel-Air area.
Starting at roughly five acres, the fire quickly expanded through dry hillside vegetation, reaching approximately 20 acres before eventually growing to an estimated 25 acres.
Around 185 Los Angeles firefighters, supported by additional agencies and multiple water-dropping helicopters, worked to prevent the flames from spreading farther through the hills.
By approximately 6:12 p.m., firefighters had stopped the fire’s forward progress. No deaths or injuries were reported, no structures were reported damaged, and evacuation warnings were later lifted.
Getty Fire Grows Rapidly Above 405 Freeway
The location of the fire made it highly visible to thousands of motorists traveling through the Sepulveda Pass.
Smoke rose from the hills above the 405 as flames burned through vegetation near Getty Center Drive.
The fire was initially estimated at approximately five acres but expanded as crews mobilized resources.
It later reached approximately 20 acres before officials estimated the burned area at around 25 acres.
The combination of steep terrain, dry vegetation and very hot weather created difficult conditions for the firefighters working to stop its advance.
405 Freeway Fire Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Fire Name | Getty Fire |
| Date | September 9, 2026 |
| Approximate Start Time | 4:15 p.m. |
| Location | Near Getty Center Drive |
| Area | Brentwood / Bel-Air, Los Angeles |
| Nearby Roadway | 405 Freeway |
| Initial Size | Approximately 5 acres |
| Estimated Final Size in Latest Update | Approximately 25 acres |
| Forward Progress Stopped | Approximately 6:12 p.m. |
| Firefighters Involved | Around 185 LAFD personnel during initial response |
| Evacuation Warnings | Issued for two zones, later lifted |
| Getty Center | Evacuated and closed early |
| Injuries | None reported |
| Structures Damaged | None reported |
| Cause | Under investigation |
Nearly 200 Firefighters Join Response
The Los Angeles Fire Department deployed a substantial number of personnel as the fire expanded.
Approximately 185 Los Angeles firefighters were involved during the initial containment and mop-up operation.
Additional assistance came from Los Angeles County firefighters, the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power.
Crews attacked the fire from the ground while multiple helicopters carried out water drops over the burning hillside.
The aerial response was particularly important because of the steep terrain surrounding the Sepulveda Pass, where some areas can be difficult to reach quickly with ground equipment.
The combined operation ultimately stopped the fire before it could continue spreading through the surrounding hills.
Getty Center Evacuated and Closed Early
The nearby Getty Center was evacuated as a precaution while the fire burned on the surrounding hillside.
Visitors and staff were directed away from the property, and the museum closed earlier than scheduled.
Despite its proximity to the fire, the Getty Center itself was not reported damaged.
Its artwork and collections were also reported safe.
The evacuation provided emergency officials with greater flexibility while firefighters worked nearby and conditions remained uncertain.
Once the fire’s forward movement had been stopped, the immediate danger around the area began to diminish.
Evacuation Warnings Issued, Then Lifted
Two Genasys zones were placed under evacuation warnings during the height of the emergency.
Residents within those areas were advised to prepare for the possibility of leaving their homes if fire conditions worsened.
The warnings did not mean that every resident had been ordered to evacuate. Instead, they served as a precaution while firefighters worked to control the blaze.
After crews stopped the fire’s forward progress and officials determined that the immediate threat had decreased, the evacuation warnings were lifted.
Firefighters nevertheless remained in the hills afterward because stopping forward progress does not mean every part of a wildfire has been extinguished.
No Injuries or Structures Damaged
Despite the dramatic appearance of the Getty Fire, officials reported a relatively encouraging outcome.
No civilian deaths or injuries were reported.
No firefighter injuries were reported in the available information.
Authorities also said no structures had been damaged by the blaze.
The absence of structural losses was significant given the location of the fire near residential areas, the Getty Center and one of Southern California’s busiest freeways.
Firefighters were able to contain the immediate spread before the flames reached nearby buildings.
405 Freeway Remained Open
The 405 Freeway remained open while firefighters battled the blaze.
Motorists traveling through the area nevertheless encountered heavy smoke and emergency activity near the roadway.
Firefighting equipment and personnel were operating close to the freeway while helicopters worked overhead.
Drivers were urged to remain cautious because wildfire smoke can reduce visibility and emergency operations can quickly alter traffic conditions.
The continued operation of the freeway also distinguished the incident from larger emergencies that sometimes require major road closures.
Extreme Heat Complicated Firefighting Efforts
The Getty Fire developed during a period of intense heat in Southern California.
Hot temperatures combined with dry hillside vegetation created conditions favorable to rapid fire growth.
For firefighters, the weather also increased the physical difficulty of working on steep terrain while wearing protective equipment.
Crews had to move quickly during the early stages of the fire to prevent flames from establishing a larger footprint in the surrounding brush.
Their response successfully limited the blaze to approximately 25 acres in the latest estimate.
Cause of Getty Fire Remains Unknown
Investigators have not announced what started the fire.
There has been no confirmed finding that the blaze was deliberately set.
Likewise, authorities have not established that equipment, a vehicle, electrical infrastructure or another form of human activity caused the ignition.
The origin remains under investigation.
Fire investigators may examine the area where the blaze is believed to have started and review any available evidence before determining whether a specific cause can be identified.
Until that process is completed, claims assigning responsibility for the Getty Fire would be premature.
2026 Blaze Smaller Than 2019 Getty Fire
Wednesday’s incident also revived memories of the much larger Getty Fire that affected the area in October 2019.
The earlier wildfire burned hundreds of acres and resulted in widespread evacuations.
The September 2026 fire was significantly smaller.
Although it initially grew quickly and generated a large smoke plume, firefighters stopped its forward progress after approximately 25 acres had burned.
The similar name comes from the geographic area and should not cause the two incidents to be confused.
Firefighters Continue Mop-Up Operations
Stopping a wildfire’s forward progress is only one stage of the firefighting operation.
Crews remained in the area after 6:12 p.m. to locate and extinguish remaining hot spots.
Hidden heat can remain in vegetation and other material even after large visible flames disappear.
Firefighters therefore continued working to reduce the possibility that hot spots could reignite and threaten unburned vegetation.
Officials also continued monitoring the weather and conditions around the fire perimeter.
Getty Fire Investigation Continues
The rapid response prevented Wednesday’s brush fire from developing into a significantly larger emergency.
A blaze that started at roughly five acres expanded to approximately 25 acres, but firefighters stopped its advance without any reported injuries or structural losses.
The Getty Center was evacuated and closed as a precaution, while nearby residents were temporarily placed under evacuation warnings. Those warnings were subsequently lifted as conditions improved.
The remaining questions now center primarily on the fire’s cause and final containment.
For Los Angeles residents, the incident provides another example of how quickly a small vegetation fire can grow in the dry, brush-covered hills surrounding the city, particularly during periods of extreme heat.
Crews will continue working to fully secure the burned area while investigators attempt to determine what sparked the Getty Fire near the 405 Freeway.
Disclaimer
This article is based on information available concerning the September 9, 2026 Getty Fire near the 405 Freeway and Getty Center Drive in Los Angeles. The fire was estimated at approximately 25 acres, with forward progress reported stopped around 6:12 p.m. No injuries or structural damage were reported in the supplied information, and evacuation warnings were later lifted. The cause remains under investigation, and fire conditions, acreage estimates and other details may be updated as authorities complete their assessment.