LOS ANGELES COUNTY, Calif. (KGTV) - A brush fire along the 210 Freeway has burned about 5,000 acres Saturday, threatening dozens of home in Sun Valley, according to fire officials.
High winds and temperatures crossing the 100-degree mark have caused the La Tuna Fire to spread quickly, according to Los Angeles Fire Department officials. The winds also carried embers across the freeway, starting spot fires, officials said.
Crews have closed the 210 freeway in both directions, between the 118 and 2 freeways.
As of midnight Saturday, the blaze was only 10 percent contained. Fire officials are expected to give an update later in the day on their progress.
UPDATE:
10:48 a.m.
At a news conference, L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti says one home in the Sunland/Tujunga area is on fire, but is expected to be extinguished.
Officials at news conference announced that 300 homes have been evacuated in Burbank, 180 in L.A. and some additional homes in Glendale.
They’re urging residents near the fire area to be ready to evacuate if the call comes, and to take their pets with them.
About 500 firefighters are working to put out the blaze now, additional resources have been requested from the state and the city of Los Angeles.
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The fire began just after 1 p.m. Friday in the north side drainage of La Tuna Canyon Rd. before spreading east and hoping the 210 Freeway, according to LAFD. Crews were working to protect homes located along Honolulu Ave. to Verdugo Crestline Dr. above the freeway.
Friday evening, about 50 homes were at risk and crews were working to establish a line against the fire's spread. About 200 homes had already been evacuated. Precautionary evacuations were also underway in Reverie and Haines Canyon, fire officials said.
Those evacuations remained in place Saturday morning.
An evacuation center has been set up Sunland Rec Center (at 8651 Foothill Blvd.) for those evacuated from their homes. The evacuation spot was relocated from Verdugo Hills High School.
More than 300 LAFD firefighters were on scene, in addition to crews from Los Angeles County Fire, Glendale Fire, and Angeles National Forest fire departments.
