Reporter staff

Area firefighters beat back a brush fire off Highway 18, west of State Route 167 in Auburn that closed Mountain View Drive near Mountain View Cemetery and snarled traffic on the Valley Freeway earlier today.

Just after 11:30 a.m. a brush fire was reported off westbound Highway 18. Crews from the Valley Regional Fire Authority, South King Fire and Rescue and Kent Fire worked together from two different locations to put out the brush fire that was moving up the hill toward Mountain View Drive.

Brush trucks from King County Fire District No. 20 and King County Fire District 44 also provided help.

Seven engines, two aid cars, two brush trucks, two command vehicles and one tender truck were dispatched to the fire.

After nearly two hours the fire was under control near Highway 18 and crews were able to move to the top of the hill near Mountain View Drive and focus on hot spots.

As of 3:30 p.m., crews were still on the scene mopping up spot fires.