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A student stands near a couch fire on Landfair Avenue early Sunday morning shortly before riot po

Local law enforcement responded to what appeared to be a couch fire in the middle of the street on the 600 block of Landfair Avenue early Sunday morning. In the altercation, police officers fired guns with what witnesses believed to be rubber bullets, hit students with batons, and forced students into the nearest apartment buildings.

At approximately 1:55 a.m., two fire trucks arrived on the scene, and the Los Angeles Police Department was on citywide alert as of 3 a.m.

A crowd of people, many of whom said they were there to celebrate the UCLA football team’s upset victory over USC on Saturday, had gathered around the blaze. Witnesses at the scene estimated the crowd to be around 200 to 300, while UCPD gave an estimate of 2,000 people.

At least one couch was set ablaze, and witnesses said as many as four couches were brought out.

Students present reported being forced back from the partially extinguished bonfire by law enforcement. Members of the crowd were throwing glass bottles toward the fire, police officers and the crowd.

As the crowd attempted to leave the scene shortly after, police began firing on them and forced many from the street. University police could not confirm whether rubber bullets were shot.

LAPD and UCPD were on tactical alert, trying to control the West side of Los Angeles as of 2:30 a.m.

The call to police was made from 632 Landfair Ave. regarding a couch on fire, though later reports were made that multiple couches were involved, according to UCPD Capt. John Adams.

The incident commander for LAPD on the scene called the gathering an unlawful assembly, according to UCPD, and asked people to disperse.

Adams said UCPD used no force against the crowd, and LAPD used "less-than-lethal force."

Students present reported being frightened by the situation and the police presence.

“It's not every day that a helicopter with bright-ass lights is flying over Westwood, and the riot police,” said Jake Kaizer-Salk, president of Alpha Epilson Pi, a fraternity located at the corner of Roebling and Landfair avenues.

Students also said they were upset about being forced into unfamiliar buildings.

“I'm in an apartment where I don't know anyone. ... Seems like (police) took care of the situation and then went beyond,” said Dan Hugo, a second-year business economics student.

Another student said she called UCPD dispatch and was told that students forced into apartment buildings would be allowed to return home. But when students approached riot police, they were told to return to the buildings.

Members of the crowd said they were there to celebrate the victory or just to see what was going on when police arrived on the scene.

Students present expressed a fear of police based on the recent Taser incident in Powell Library.

“I just came up to see the bonfire. ... A bunch of people (started) yelling about being Tasered and then it started raining rubber bullets,” said Aaron Stein, a fourth-year psychology student.

“The frat guys were just throwing bottles, aiming at the cops – I told them not to because they were just hitting pedestrians,” he said.

Stein said members of the crowd were both fueling the fire, as well as trying to extinguish it.

Before police moved in with riot gear to disperse the crowd, bystanders were attempting to extinguish the fire with a hose and trash cans full of water. A vehicle parked near the scene was damaged from the blaze.

Police in riot gear moved down Landfair Avenue and then further dispersed the crowd on Roebling Avenue toward Levering Avenue.

Claudia Sevilla, a fourth-year biochemistry student who was attempting to leave the scene, said the police were telling people to “get the fuck off the sidewalk.”

Sevilla, who was on crutches because of a broken ankle, said she got hit in the back with what witnesses thought were rubber bullets, and said it felt like being shot with a paintball gun.

At 2:40 a.m., students cautiously ventured back onto the Landfair sidewalk, while helicopters still hovered overhead.

Other crimes reported in the area Saturday night and early Sunday morning included vandalism and burglary, Adams said.

With reports from Lindsey Morgan, Jennifer Mishory, and Anthony Pesce, Bruin senior staff.