For the past week, temperatures in Los Angeles have consistently hit the high nineties and low hundreds. The hot weather and large regions of dry brush are a recipe for disaster.

According to the Los Angeles Fire Department, a brush fire broke out Friday, Sept. 1, in the Verdugo Mountains — north of downtown and east of Archer. As of Sunday morning, the fire — dubbed the La Tuna fire — had burned more than 5,900 acres, making it the largest fire in Los Angeles history.

Both Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and Governor Jerry Brown have declared states of emergencies.

“Our priority is saving people and saving property,” Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas said in a press conference Saturday morning. He also noted that the area has not burned in over 30 years, leaving lots of brush to fuel the blaze.

Fire Department officials reported that three home have burned, but no injuries have been reported. Two firefighters have been treated for dehydration. According to the Los Angeles Times, over 700 homes in the area have been evacuated.

One of the numerous people who evacuated is Martin Carrillo, who lives with his wife and children in Sunland.

“[On Saturday night] as I was driving down the 210 when [my children and I] noticed the hillside was on fire. I communicated with my wife at that point that there was a fire raging. She didn’t know about it, so she turned on the television,” Carrillo said in a phone interview. “I told her to start packing things and to get ready to evacuate.”

“People are reacting in different ways,” Carrillo said. “Some people are really nervous and others are just observing, photographing and taking stock of what’s going on.”

Hundreds of firefighters have battled the fire continuously since its outbreak, but the fire was only 15 percent contained on Sunday afternoon.

Winds in the burn area have been around 10 mph, making it more difficult for firefighters to battle the growing blaze. However, rains Sunday night have aided in the effort to contain the fire.

The 210 Freeway is currently closed between Glendale Freeway and Sunland Boulevard due to proximity to the fire. The California Highway Patrol is unsure when the freeway will reopen.

Burbank resident Heather Waters can see the fire from her home. 

“It’s really smoky. I locked all my windows and doors and am trying to go outside as little as possible. There’s a lot of ash in my backyard,” Waters said in a phone interview. “Right above my house is all smoke and dark. I can’t see the sky here, but if I look to the horizon it’s blue.”

Although the the fire itself does not threaten her home, the smoke is still detrimental.

“The air quality is not so great. I was at work yesterday a few miles away, and my chest was already hurting,” Waters said. “The fire is far enough away that [burning] is not a concern; we feel safe where we are. If we had to leave, it would be because of air quality for myself and my pets.”

The South Coast Air Quality Management District [SCAQMD] issued an alert Saturday warning of the air’s hazards in affected ares.

“Everyone should avoid any vigorous outdoor or indoor exertion; people with respiratory or heart disease, older adults, and children should remain indoors. Keep windows and doors closed or seek alternate shelter. Run your air conditioner if you have one and keep the fresh air intake closed and the filter clean to prevent bringing additional smoke inside,” the SCAQMD alert said. “Avoid using a swamp cooler or whole-house fan to prevent bringing additional smoke inside. To avoid worsening the health effects of smoke, don’t use indoor or outdoor wood-burning appliances, including fireplaces.”

Fires this week have also burned regions in Northern California and prompted numerous evacuations there.