California Chopper Assists In Pre-Dawn Brush Fire

SHERMAN OAKS, Calif. --

A brush fire broke out before dawn Friday in a hilly area of Sherman Oaks, but firefighters appeared to have quickly brought it under control with the help of a water-dropping helicopter.

The fire was reported at 5:36 a.m. in the 3700 block of Benedict Canyon Lane, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman d'Lisa Davies.

Fifty firefighters were rushed to the area, she said, adding that there were no reports of injuries or structural damage.

A water-dropping helicopter was deployed and, within an hour, the string of flames that had lit up the night sky was no longer visible from the air.

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