State of emergency declared for Los Angeles wildfire

A smattering of rain and easing temperatures helped more than a thousand firefighters battling the largest wildfire in Los Angeles history gain the upper hand on the blaze on Sunday but officials have warned that danger remains. 

‘We’ve turned the corner, but this is not over,’ Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said on Sunday afternoon. ‘With winds this strong, anything can happen.’

Shifting winds could cause burning embers to spread the fire once more through the rugged northern edge of Los Angeles.

The nearly 5,900-acre La Tuna Fire, named after the canyon area where it erupted on Friday, has destroyed three homes and damaged one. More than 700 homes were evacuated as the blaze tore through thick brush that has not burned in decades.

Smoke rises from a house destroyed by the La Tuna Fire in Sunland, California on Sunday as fire crews continue to battle the 5,900-acre blaze

Shifting winds could cause burning embers to spread the fire once more through the rugged northern edge of Los Angeles

Shifting winds could cause burning embers to spread the fire once more through the rugged northern edge of Los Angeles

California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency on Sunday for Los Angeles County. 

The emergency declaration on Sunday comes after hundreds of residents fled their homes as flames came near foothill neighborhoods in Los Angeles, Burbank and Glendale.   

The declaration, which frees up resources to battle the flames, came the same day the National Weather Service says the temperature at Los Angeles International Airport reached 97 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking an all-time record. 

Fire crews were hoping to take advantage of calm winds as they struggled to surround a blaze threatening foothill neighborhoods in Los Angeles.

Fire Captain Ralph Terrazas says crews are getting a break Sunday from higher humidity and temperatures that have inched down into the 90s.

Meanwhile officials issued an alert for poor air quality as smoke choked the area and ash rained down across the LA basin.

Firefighters battling a wildfire near Yosemite National Park are working to safeguard a 2,700-year-old grove of giant sequoia and a pair of historic cabins inside it.

The nine-square-mile wildfire entered the Nelder Grove late Friday night.

The fire had charred the ground in Nelder Grove by Sunday but the more than 100 giant sequoia there remain untouched. 

California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles County after a wildfire burned homes and prompted mandatory evacuations

California Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency for Los Angeles County after a wildfire burned homes and prompted mandatory evacuations

A house destroyed by the La Tuna Fire in Sunland. The La Tuna Fire has burnt 6,000 acres, destroyed three homes and is the biggest fire in acreage in Los Angeles city history

A house destroyed by the La Tuna Fire in Sunland. The La Tuna Fire has burnt 6,000 acres, destroyed three homes and is the biggest fire in acreage in Los Angeles city history

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

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 

Deer flee the the La Tuna Fire at a golf course in Burbank on Sunday afternoon

Deer flee the the La Tuna Fire at a golf course in Burbank on Sunday afternoon

Giant sequoias are some of the world’s oldest and largest inhabitants. Nelder Grove includes giant sequoia reaching more than 20 stories high, and measuring as much as 100 feet around.

Fire spokeswoman Anne Grandy said firefighters have also wrapped two 19th-century cabins and their outhouse in shiny, fire-resistant material to protect them from the flames.

She said the giant sequoia grove has survived thousands of fires and that saving the giant trees and the cabins from this one is a priority.

The fire burning near Yosemite is one of many burning throughout parts of California.

About 80 miles to the east, crews are protecting homes from a fast-moving wildfire that forced evacuations in Riverside County. 

More than 400 miles to the north, the so-called Ponderosa Fire has burned 3,880 acres and destroyed 30 homes in Butte County since it broke out on Tuesday. 

It prompted authorities to issue evacuation orders earlier this week to residents of some 500 homes.

Firemen set up hoses as a neighborhood is threatened by the La Tuna Fire in Burbank on Sunday

Firemen set up hoses as a neighborhood is threatened by the La Tuna Fire in Burbank on Sunday

A fire fighting helicopter drops water on the La Tuna Fire in Burbank on Sunday as crews were hoping to take advantage of calm winds 

A fire fighting helicopter drops water on the La Tuna Fire in Burbank on Sunday as crews were hoping to take advantage of calm winds 

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

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

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