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Precautionary evacuations after brush fire breaks out above Los Angeles
A brush fire that broke out near the Tujunga neighborhood of Los Angeles prompted some precautionary evacuation orders for residents above the fire site, but those orders were lifted Monday afternoon.
The Marek Fire, which started in the 13000 block of Little Tujunga Canyon Road, has spread to 44 acres, according to Angeles National Service spokesman Nathan Judy. Containment is at 50 percent.
Little Tujunga remains closed, but Judy said he anticipates the road will be open by later Monday afternoon.
County fire crews were first joined by the U.S. Forest Service and city firefighters at 5:30 a.m.
Additional precautionary evacuation orders were issued to the nearby Wildlife Waystation, but the station’s Aminah Ramezany said they are not evacuating any animals yet.
Motorists traveling along the 210 Freeway by the 118 will probably see some break lights in that area as smoke from the fire becomes visible, Judy told KPCC.
"Folks that would normally take the Little Tujunga Canyon Road up and over from the 14 side into the Sunland area — those folks will be impacted because Little Tujunga Road is closed," he said.
Angeles Crest Highway is still open.
Since it broke out early in the morning, there was still some moisture out there, making it easier to combat, Judy said.
"If it were to come later on in the day time as the heat rises and the temperatures go up, we would’ve had a challenge with this fire,” he said.
More high temperatures were expected Monday, and the Associated Press reports another round of Santa Ana winds could increase the fire danger across the region this week.
This story has been updated.