Flames raced through Burbank’s Wildwood Canyon foothills on Saturday, forcing evacuation orders near homes and key public places as crews rushed to stop the Walnut Fire.
Quick Take
- The Walnut Fire broke out near East Walnut Avenue and Wildwood Canyon, close to DeBell Golf Course and Wildwood Canyon Park.
- City officials ordered evacuations for DeBell Restaurant and Golf Course and Stough Canyon Nature Center.
- The fire grew from 20 acres to 40 acres and reached 70 percent containment later in the day.
- One firefighter was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Fire Breaks Out Above Burbank
The Walnut Fire was first reported in the 1500 block of East Walnut Avenue near DeBell Golf Course and Wildwood Canyon Park around midafternoon. Officials said the blaze burned in the hills above Burbank and sent smoke and flames into view from nearby neighborhoods. By early reports, it had already reached 20 acres, which was enough to trigger a fast emergency response from local and regional fire crews.
Multiple agencies responded as crews used helicopters and ground teams to slow the fire’s spread. Reporters said fire departments from Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena joined the operation, while aircraft dropped water on hot spots for hours. That kind of response shows how quickly a brush fire near homes can turn into a serious public-safety event. The city also closed hiking trails and canceled the Starlight Bowl concert to keep people out of harm’s way.
Evacuation Orders and Public Safety Measures
Burbank officials identified the most direct evacuation targets as DeBell Restaurant and Golf Course and Stough Canyon Nature Center. Later city updates said evacuation warnings were also issued for Churches Court and Country Club Drive, then lifted as conditions improved. That sequence matters because it shows the city adjusted its response as crews gained control and the fire behavior changed during the evening.
The public record supplied here does not include a full incident map or the original alert text, so the exact residential footprint remains less clear than the business and landmark closures. Even so, the available reports consistently place the fire close to homes, trails, and hillside property lines. For residents, the practical point was simple: officials saw enough threat to order people out first and sort out the finer details later.
Cause Investigation and Containment Progress
Officials also looked at a nearby single-vehicle crash as a possible ignition source. ABC7 reported that a crash was recorded near East Harvard Road shortly before the fire was first reported, and investigators were treating it as a possible cause. Other coverage said no official cause had been determined at the time, so the ignition question was still open while crews fought the flames. One firefighter was hospitalized for non-life-threatening injuries during the response.
🌲 Burbank, California — Walnut Fire Update
Category: Wildfire / Evacuations
Date/Time: Saturday evening, August 8, 2026
Location: Wildwood Canyon / DeBell Golf Club area, Burbank, California
Status: Improving
Latest Update:
The Walnut Fire remains around 20 acres, but fire…— WilluChill U.S. News. (@Will466513) August 9, 2026
By 5:55 p.m., city updates said the fire had grown to 40 acres and was 70 percent contained. Later that evening, officials said forward progress had stopped and all evacuation warnings had been lifted. That outcome does not erase the disruption, but it does show the response worked as intended: move fast, protect the public, and keep the fire from reaching deeper into the neighborhood.
Sources:
nypost.com, abc7.com, cbsnews.com, youtube.com, hindustantimes.com
