What Caused California’s Skirball Fire In Bel Air?

Almost a week after the Skirball Fire began in California’s Los Angeles County, officials determined the cause of the blaze. The Skirball Fire began as a result of an illegal cooking fire at an encampment, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Los Angeles Fire Department officials said the illegal fire was started Dec. 6 in a brush area adjacent to where Sepulveda Boulevard crosses under the 405 Freeway. Firefighters got the call early that morning and responded to the scene.

“At the time of the LAFD’s arrival there were no individuals present at the area of origin and there have been no arrests made in connection to this fire,” officials said, according to Deadline.

The fire consumed some 422 acres of land and was 85 percent contained Tuesday afternoon.

Twelve homes were destroyed by the fire, while an additional six were damaged. About 700 homes were evacuated at one point, though all mandatory evacuation orders were lifted by Tuesday, the LAFD said. Three firefighters sustained minor injuries as a result of the fire.

Firefighters were expected to stay on scene until the fire was 100 percent contained.

While the Skirball Fire was mostly contained Tuesday, other wildfires continued to rage on in Southern California. In Ventura County and Santa Barbara County, the Thomas Fire had consumed 234,200 acres and forced the evacuation of 93,000 people. Almost 800 structures were destroyed and 187 were damaged, while another 18,000 remained threatened.