Biggest wildfire in LA’s history: More than 700 are forced to evacuate as 8,000 acres are scorched in blaze and hundreds of firefighters struggle to cope due to 100F heatwave and ‘very erratic’ winds

Biggest wildfire in LA’s history: More than 700 are forced to evacuate as 8,000 acres are scorched in blaze and hundreds of firefighters struggle to cope due to 100F heatwave and ‘very erratic’ winds

  • Largest wildfire in Los Angeles history has exploded to over 8,000 acres since Friday
  • The blaze has forced 700 homes to be evacuated as the fire continues to rage
  • A mere 10 per cent of the fire has been listed as under control as of Saturday
  • Heat and wind is making it difficult for firefighters to control the massive blaze
  • La Tuna Fire, named after the canyon where the fire began, shut portions of the 210 Freeway

The largest fire in Los Angeles history is engulfing thousands of acres of land and forcing residents to evacuate homes throughout the county.

The fire, dubbed the La Tuna Fire after the canyon where it erupted, has already burned through 8,000 acres of land, and the heatwave in the area along with erratic winds are proving major obstacles for firefighters trying control the blaze.

The fire broke out Friday and has already forced the partial closure of the 210 Freeway, a major thoroughfare. The 210 is closed between the Glendale Freeway and Sunland Boulevard.

Scroll for video 

La Tuna Fire is seen raging behind the Burbank Town Center Mall early morning Saturday as fire and smoke burns the hills

La Tuna Fire is seen raging behind the Burbank Town Center Mall early morning Saturday as fire and smoke burns the hills

A crew with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection battles La Tuna on a hillside in Burbank

A crew with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection battles La Tuna on a hillside in Burbank

La Tuna Fire rages behind the Hollywood Hills on Friday, with the famed Hollywood sign in the front, right 

La Tuna Fire rages behind the Hollywood Hills on Friday, with the famed Hollywood sign in the front, right

A firefighter gets into position to battle the LaTuna fire burning alongside the 210 freeway in Sunland on Saturday

A firefighter gets into position to battle the LaTuna fire burning alongside the 210 freeway in Sunland on Saturday

The blaze comes dangerously close to this hillside property where emergency responders have parked in the driveway 

The blaze comes dangerously close to this hillside property where emergency responders have parked in the driveway

Firefighters monitor the LaTuna fire burning alongside the 210 freeway in Sunland where flames are shown licking the side of a hill

Firefighters monitor the LaTuna fire burning alongside the 210 freeway in Sunland where flames are shown licking the side of a hill

The blaze raging along the hillside in Burbank engulfs brush and trees and flames lick up the hillside 

The blaze raging along the hillside in Burbank engulfs brush and trees and flames lick up the hillside

A helicopter fights the blaze from above in an effort to save people's homes as flames are seen just above this home's roof

A helicopter fights the blaze from above in an effort to save people’s homes as flames are seen just above this home’s roof

The massive blaze is fought from the air by a helicopter trying to save a property where the fire is creeping dangerously close

The massive blaze is fought from the air by a helicopter trying to save a property where the fire is creeping dangerously close

It’s unclear when the freeway will completely reopen, according to the LA Times.

The blaze started with just one acre of brush on Friday.

The enormous blaze led authorities to evacuate more than 700 homes in a north Los Angeles neighborhood and in nearby Burbank and Glendale, officials said.

The wildfire on the northern edge of Los Angeles rapidly grew on Saturday into what the mayor called the largest blaze in the city’s history.

‘We can’t recall anything larger,’ Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas during a 10am news conference Saturday.

‘Our priority is saving people and saving property,’ Terrazas said, according to the LA Times.

The fire raged alongside the 210 Freeway in Sunland, California leading authorities to close portions of the busy thoroughfare 

The fire raged alongside the 210 Freeway in Sunland, California leading authorities to close portions of the busy thoroughfare

A resident stops along the 210 Freeway to check on his home and survey the fire and smoke engulfing areas of Sunland 

A resident stops along the 210 Freeway to check on his home and survey the fire and smoke engulfing areas of Sunland

People watch flames of La Tuna Fire blaze on a hill in the Shadow Hills neighborhood Saturday. Smoke completely fills the sky

People watch flames of La Tuna Fire blaze on a hill in the Shadow Hills neighborhood Saturday. Smoke completely fills the sky

A fire truck passes by burning brush along La Tuna Canyon Road, closed to traffic, in the Verdugo Mountains

A fire truck passes by burning brush along La Tuna Canyon Road, closed to traffic, in the Verdugo Mountains

A deer runs along the 210 Freeway, normally packed with vehciles, escaping the fire in Sunland on Saturday

A deer runs along the 210 Freeway, normally packed with vehciles, escaping the fire in Sunland on Saturday

Residents on the 210 freeway try to see their house on the other side of thick smoke and flames near the community of Tujunga during the La Tuna Fire

Residents on the 210 freeway try to see their house on the other side of thick smoke and flames near the community of Tujunga during the La Tuna Fire

People carry their belongings and dog to a car to evacuate the area as the La Tuna Fire approaches in the Shadow Hills

People carry their belongings and dog to a car to evacuate the area as the La Tuna Fire approaches in the Shadow Hills

People in Burbank watch the smoke and flames below in a canyon. Smoke engulfing the canyon below

People in Burbank watch the smoke and flames below in a canyon. Smoke engulfing the canyon below

Bonnie Murphy is able to evacuate her horses with the help of good Samaritan neighbor Bill Ray Orme (L) in Shadow Hills

Bonnie Murphy is able to evacuate her horses with the help of good Samaritan neighbor Bill Ray Orme (L) in Shadow Hills

Bonnie Murphy struggles to evacuate her horses as the La Tuna Fire covers the Shadow Hills neighborhood Saturday

Bonnie Murphy struggles to evacuate her horses as the La Tuna Fire covers the Shadow Hills neighborhood Saturday

Units of the LAFD on scene responding to fire along La Tuna Canyon Road near Burbank as fire trucks park to survey the area

Units of the LAFD on scene responding to fire along La Tuna Canyon Road near Burbank as fire trucks park to survey the area

The La Tuna Canyon fire over Burbank as a canyon in covered in thick smoke and flames can be seen close to homes

The La Tuna Canyon fire over Burbank as a canyon in covered in thick smoke and flames can be seen close to homes

The La Tuna Fire rages in Burbank as flames eat through brush and trees on a hillslope

The La Tuna Fire rages in Burbank as flames eat through brush and trees on a hillslope

The La Tuna Canyon fire over Burbank Saturday as fire weaves through the hillside eating brush and trees in its path

The La Tuna Canyon fire over Burbank Saturday as fire weaves through the hillside eating brush and trees in its path

The La Tuna Fire comes dangerously close to properties as large flames loom in the distance on Saturday 

The La Tuna Fire comes dangerously close to properties as large flames loom in the distance on Saturday

Firefighters use hoses and helicopters to fight the La Tuna Fire on Saturday near Burbank 

Firefighters use hoses and helicopters to fight the La Tuna Fire on Saturday near Burbank

‘There is a lot of un-burned fuel in this area,’ he added, noting this is the first fire in the area in 33 years.

Fire in thick brush that has not burned in decades was slowly creeping down a rugged hillside on Saturday toward houses, with temperatures in the area approaching 100 degrees, the Los Angeles Fire Department said in an alert.

Authorities warned of erratic winds that could force them to widen the evacuation zone, after the fire destroyed one house in Los Angeles on Saturday…….More Here

Click here for reuse options!
Copyright 2017 Hiram's 1555 Blog

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.