Firefighters make gains against largest wildfire in Los Angeles' history
At least three homes were destroyed and four people reportedly injured in the largest wildfires to hit Los Angeles (LA) in its history. The fires, which started on Friday in the La Tuna Canyon, covered around 7,000 acres, leading to a state of emergency. Hundreds of LA residents have now been allowed to return to their homes as the wildfires seemed to ease.
Around 1,000 firefighters are battling the raging wildfires. 206 fire engines, nine helicopters, and numerous US military transport planes have also been pressed into service.
On Sunday, evacuations were lifted in LA's Glendale and Burbank thanks to cooler temperatures and rain which helped firefighters tackle the wildfires. However, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti warned that "We've turned the corner, but this is not over," citing dangers posed by "strong" winds. Garcetti earlier called the wildfires "the largest fire in the history of LA city in terms of its acreage."
"We do not have this fire contained," Garcetti said, adding: "But we do have a good sense of, in the next day or two, how we can bring this fire to rest." By Sunday evening, firefighter crews had the wildfires under 30% containment, up from 15% earlier. Emergency declarations have allowed state and federal aid funding to be made available.
California has been experiencing a heat wave, which accompanied by strong winds have contributed to the LA wildfire. Besides LA, the US government has declared similar wildfire emergencies in Montana and Washington state, where thousands of residents have also been evacuated.
