Evacuations Surge As Flames Advance

Flames raced near Burbank homes on Saturday as the Walnut Fire triggered evacuation orders and a fast-moving multiagency response.

Quick Take

The Walnut Fire started near the 1500 block of East Walnut Avenue, close to DeBell Golf Course and Wildwood Canyon Park.
City officials ordered evacuations for DeBell Restaurant and Golf Course and Stough Canyon Nature Center.
Fire crews used helicopters and ground teams as the fire grew to about 40 acres and reached 70 percent containment.
One firefighter was taken to a hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, and hiking trails stayed closed.

Fire Breaks Out Near Homes and Businesses

The Walnut Fire began Saturday afternoon in the hills above Burbank, near the 1500 block of East Walnut Avenue. Reported near DeBell Golf Course and Wildwood Canyon Park, the blaze quickly pushed city leaders to order evacuations for nearby businesses and other exposed spots. ABC7 said the fire was first reported around 3 p.m., while other coverage placed the first report a few minutes later, showing how early wildfire details can shift as crews arrive and size up the scene.

Officials said the fire was serious enough to require broad emergency action, but the exact footprint changed as updates came in. LAist reported the fire had burned 20 acres by late afternoon, while ABC7 later said it had grown to about 40 acres and was 70 percent contained. That spread, along steep terrain with access problems, helped explain why firefighters from several cities joined the response and used helicopter water drops to slow the flames.

Evacuations, Closures, and Public Safety Steps

City leaders named clear evacuation targets: DeBell Restaurant and Golf Course and Stough Canyon Nature Center. ABC7 also reported that hiking trails stayed closed and the Starlight Bowl concert scheduled for Saturday was canceled. Those steps show how wildfire response reaches beyond the burn line itself. Officials often close nearby public spaces early, because smoke, falling embers, and shifting winds can turn a local brush fire into a wider safety problem in minutes.

The public record supplied here does not include the full emergency order text or a complete map of every affected home. Even so, the reporting consistently shows that the fire burned close enough to residential areas to justify a rapid response. Video from the scene showed heavy smoke and flames near homes above Burbank, and crews from Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena worked with helicopters overhead to keep the fire from spreading farther into the foothills.

Cause Inquiry and What Remains Unclear

Investigators were also looking at a nearby single-vehicle crash as a possible ignition source. ABC7 said the crash was reported near East Harvard Road about three minutes before the fire was first reported. The same report said one firefighter was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Those two details underline the risk that responders faced. Brush fires in steep neighborhoods are not routine cleanup jobs; they are hazardous incidents with real injury and property threats.

Burbank #WalnutFire Update as of 7:10PM:
Forward progress of the walnut fire has stopped. All evacuations warnings have been lifted. Anyone reentering the area is asked to be careful and watch out for fire crews working in the area.

— KalaniTheGreat (@KalaniTheGreat) August 9, 2026

Some details were still moving as the story broke. Reported acreage ranged from 20 to 40 acres, and timing estimates varied by outlet. That does not weaken the main facts: a fire near homes prompted evacuations, public closures, and a large mutual-aid response. It does show why early wildfire coverage can feel confusing to residents. Local officials often act before every fact is settled, because waiting for perfect certainty can leave people exposed when fire behavior changes fast.