Brush Fire Burns Along 2 Freeway at Mountain Street (Update)

Update:

Firefighters from the Glendale Fire Department and the Los Angeles County Fire Department knocked down a half-acre grass fire along the northbound 2 freeway in 45 minutes, aided by two water-dropping helicopters from the L.A. County Fire Department.

Except for smoldering embers, which are still keeping the firefighters on their toes, the fire was extinguished at 1:08 p.m., Capt. Cody Smith of the Glendale Fire Department told Patch.

The fire started at 12:23 p.m. on the right shoulder of the northbound 2 freeway, Smith said, adding that the firefighters on the scene "took an aggressive stance" against it and are still on alert in certain "hot zones."

The firefighters are also monitoring winds and the temperature in the area, Smith said.

The northbound 2 freeway at the 134 freeway junction at Mountain Street remains closed to traffic. The southbound 2 freeway is available as an alternative route.

Previously:

A half-acre grass fire prompted the closure of the northbound Glendale (2) Freeway at Mountain Street in Glendale Friday, according to the California Highway Patrol. 

Traffic is backed up along the Glendale 2 and 134 freeways. California Highway Patrol has closed the northbound 2 freeway at the 134 freeway junction at Mountain Street.

Drivers can expect the freeway to be shut down for some time during the blaze, said CHP Officer Charmaine Fajardo. 

The 2 freeway connector to both the eastbound and westbound 134 is also closed, according to the California Department of Transportation website. A detour is available.

Traffic is also backed up along Verdugo Road.

A Los Angeles County Fire Department helicopter landed on the freeway. 

It isn't immediately clear when the fire started or just when the section of the 2 freeway near Mountain Street was shut down—but the Department of Transportation website's latest update was at around 1:10 p.m.

Check back with Patch as more information is available.