Thousands of acres burn in Los Angeles-area fire

A brush fire plagued the greater Los Angeles area into Saturday, forcing more than 400 people from their homes and spreading over 5,000 acres as the region grapples with an intense heatwave.

“This is by acreage perhaps, the largest fire we have ever experienced in the city of Los Angeles,” the city’s Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a briefing on Saturday.

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The mayor said that 300 homes in Burbank and 180 in Los Angeles were under evacuation orders.

Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas said the number of acres burned in the fire is expected to rise.

#LaTunaFire General burn area of fire +5,000 acres 10% contained 1 house lost Detailed evac map pending List here https://t.co/YrRAiGk9Tv pic.twitter.com/KduKAoUzdJ

— LAFD (@LAFD) September 2, 2017 

The fire began north of Los Angeles, near the La Tuna Canyon, which is in close proximity to the 210 Freeway.

Police were forced to shutdown the Freeway as the fire moved onto the road, which remained close over Friday night.  

#LIVE: Traffic stopped as flames jump 210 Freeway https://t.co/ffml3q9iMt pic.twitter.com/nLfY7WZBml

— CBS Los Angeles (@CBSLA) September 1, 2017

The fire comes as the greater Los Angeles area deals with extreme weather, including record heat and lightning storms.

Some lightning strikes spurred brush fires close to the 5 Freeway in the Santa Clarita Valley on Thursday, according to the Los Angeles Times.