LOS ANGELES — Governor Jerry Brown declared a state of emergency in Los Angeles County on Sunday as firefighters continued to battle a 5,900-acre brush fire north of downtown Los Angeles.
The fire, which began on Friday, has forced people out of their homes and shut down an interstate, CNN reported.
The declaration will make sure state and federal assistance will be provided as fast as possible, according to the L.A. Times.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti already said the blaze was the biggest in the city's history in terms of acreage, the L.A. Times reported.
Garcetti said on Saturday that 300 homes in Burbank and 180 houses in Los Angeles received evacuation orders, according to CNN.
So far the fire has destroyed three homes in Tujunga, while two firefighters had to be taken to the hospital for dehydration.
The blaze was only 15% contained by Sunday, with more than 1,000 firefighters now on scene.
There are 206 fire engines and nine helicopters dedicated to battling the blaze, Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Ralph Terrazas said at a Sunday press conference, according to CNN.
The blaze is believed to have been started by fireworks, according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection.