La Tuna Fire Ceases Burning
Los Angeles has been enduring one the worst heat waves in years. And with the heat comes fire season. As of last Friday, Sept. 1, 2017 at 1:30pm, a brush fire spread throughout La Tuna Canyon Road, burning 7,003 acres across the surrounding Verdugo mountains, and prompting people from more than 200 homes to evacuate the next day.
The fire also caused roads that included twelve miles of the 210 freeway to close. The cause of the fire remains unknown. The wildfire has affected parts of Burbank, Glendale, Sunland, and Tujunga, leaving many residents of these areas forced to leave behind their personal belongings and evacuate.
On Sunday morning, Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles County. At that time, due to the expectation of winds only, 10% of the fires have been contained. But by Sunday afternoon, Tropical Storm Lydia brought much needed rainfall to the area, finally containing the fire that has been burning all weekend long. The evacuation orders were then lifted for the Burbank, Glendale, Sunland, and Tujunga areas and residents were able to return home. As of late Monday afternoon, the La Tuna Fire ceased to continue to burn leaving four structures destroyed in the flames and two firefighters who were hospitalized previously due to dehydration, as confirmed by fire officials.