La Tuna Fire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids La Tuna Fire |
|
|---|---|
| Location | Los Angeles, La Cañada Flintridge, Burbank, Glendale, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 34°13′46″N 118°16′03″W / 34.22957°N 118.2674°W |
| Statistics | |
| Date(s) | September 1, 2017 – September 9, 2017 |
| Burned area | 7,194 acres (29 km2) |
| Cause | Undetermined, not suspicious |
| Buildings destroyed |
|
| Non-fatal injuries | 10 |
| Map | |
 Location in southern California
|
|
The La Tuna Fire was a large wildfire that started on September 1, 2017. It burned over 7,194 acres (2,911 ha) (about 29 square kilometers) of land. This fire happened in the Verdugo Mountains near Los Angeles, California. It destroyed 5 homes and forced more than 300 families to leave their houses. The La Tuna Fire was the biggest wildfire in the city of Los Angeles in 50 years.
How the Fire Started and Spread
The La Tuna Fire was first reported on Friday, September 1, 2017. It began in the afternoon on West La Tuna Canyon Road in Sun Valley. The fire quickly spread north towards Interstate 210. This forced the highway to close completely.
The fire behaved in an unpredictable way because of changing winds. Flames jumped across both sides of the interstate. It started burning in four different directions at once. By Friday evening, the fire had grown to about 2,000 acres. Only 10 percent of the fire was under control at that time.
Emergency Response and Impact
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti quickly declared a local emergency. He asked Governor Jerry Brown to declare a state of emergency for California. This helps get more resources to fight the fire.
On Saturday, September 2, the fire threatened homes in Burbank, Glendale, and Sunland-Tujunga. It was reported as the largest fire ever within Los Angeles city limits.
Many firefighters worked hard to stop the fire.
- On September 2, two firefighters became sick from the heat.
- On September 3, another firefighter was treated for heat illness.
- One firefighter also had minor burns.
- A volunteer helping out also needed medical attention.
By September 3, over 1,000 firefighters were battling the blaze. They used 206 fire engines, 9 helicopters, and other equipment. Three buildings were destroyed by the fire, and one was damaged. Later, rain from Tropical Storm Lidia (2017) helped firefighters control the wildfire.
Fire Contained and Investigation
On September 9, 2017, the Los Angeles Fire Department announced good news. The La Tuna Fire was 100% contained, meaning it was fully under control.
This fire was the largest in Los Angeles city limits in half a century. Because of it, the Los Angeles City Council started working on new plans. These plans would help residents be better prepared for large emergencies in the future.
On October 26, 2017, the Los Angeles Fire Department finished its investigation. They could not figure out what caused the La Tuna Fire. However, their report said the fire was "not suspicious." This means they did not think it was started on purpose.
