wildfire
© lacofireairops / Instagram
A ferocious bushfire near Los Angeles has spread across thousands of acres, prompting the mandatory evacuations of hundreds of homes in Burbank, California.

Burbank police announced mandatory evacuations of residents in the Brace Canyon Park area after the surrounding Verdugo Mountains caught fire at about 1:30pm on Friday afternoon.




Around 10 hours later, the LAFD said strong gusting winds meant the fire was erratic and unpredictable, leaving officials "unable to give a firm prediction on all areas potentially at risk".

"The LaTunaFire is burning in 4 different directions to include down over the hills towards Burbank as well as north through the canyons above the 210 freeway," read a statement from the LAFD released late Friday night.




Flames, fanned by 40mph winds, reached 100 feet in height as they spread across the 210 freeway, bringing traffic to a halt and eventually closing the road on both sides.

Roughly 2,000 acres have been burned by the fire, about 200 homes were reportedly evacuated, and 50 homes are considered "at risk" by the LA Fire Department.


The fire has remained at 10-percent containment since 7pm Friday, and a tweet from Burbank police early Saturday said the evacuation orders will likely continue until "tomorrow afternoon."

Residents shared incredible footage of the blaze from all around the city, in particular from Burbank Airport and the 210 freeway.

More than 250 firefighters from the LAFD have been tackling the blaze from the ground and air. Fire crews from Pasadena, Glendale, Burbank, Los Angeles County, City, and the Angeles National Forest were also called in to help battle the flames.